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Tag: Inec

  • Electoral stumbling blocks

    Electoral stumbling blocks

    •Jega’s recent complaints make us wonder if he understands his role as umpire

    Predictably, a list of challenges identified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, ahead of the country’s 2015 general elections, has triggered another round of public debate and scepticism about the organisation’s capability to conduct transparent and generally acceptable polls. Coming from the body’s helmsman, the information certainly needs to be taken seriously, and Nigerians must be anxious for reassurance that Jega will be able to surmount the obstacles.

    The venue of the communication, which gave it a keen edge, was the United States (US), suggesting an international dimension that made it even more worrying because it was like alerting the world to the precarious situation. Jega, who took the stage to deliver a keynote address at the inauguration session of the CSIS Nigeria Forum in Washington DC, gave the audience a thought-provoking glimpse into the country’s problematic march to next year’s elections.

    The stumbling blocks, according to him, include insecurity, funding, attitude of the political class, and apathetic and inactive citizenry. Other alleged impediments are delay in amendment to the legal framework, completion of the review of electoral constituencies and polling units, and prosecution of election offenders.

    Against the background of the unsatisfactory 2011 general elections, and the contentious Anambra State governorship poll in November last year, both held under his leadership, Jega has clearly suffered considerable bashing, which interestingly contradicts the initial public warmth that greeted his appointment, based on his perceived potential as a change agent.  To those who now regard him as a disappointment, his latest alarm does not redeem his image.

    However, it is only fair to examine the identified difficulties, especially insecurity and funding, which are quite critical to successful conduct of the elections, and to give Jega some credit for highlighting the possible hindrances. On security, it is hoped, particularly, that the Islamist terrorists in the country’s Northeast would have been neutralised before the elections to allow the people make their electoral choices in a peaceful atmosphere. Additionally, it is important to effectively check other similarly disruptive activities which create insecurity, such as kidnappings, political thuggery and assassination, to mention a few. On funding, it is curious that Jega raised the issue, particularly considering the fact that the commission’s role is expected to come under budgetary cover.  It, therefore, prompts the question whether the government is demonstrating sufficient responsibility by releasing the necessary funds as and when due.  It goes without saying that denying the commission legitimate funds is not only inexcusable; it also cannot be in the best interest of democracy.

    Other problems raised by Jega would seem to require increased political consciousness on the part of the people, greater political will on the part of government, and improved organisation on the part of INEC.

    There is an aspect of Jega’s address that, perhaps inadvertently, tends to make excuses for unconstructive practices in the country’s democratic system.  His apparent rationalisation of such negativities is unacceptable and, in a sense, puts a big question mark on his understanding of his own role. According to him, “We are still nurturing a democratic political culture after many years of military rule and the anti-democratic tendencies it fostered. Our electoral system is therefore work in progress.”  He added, “Democratisation, in all societies, is neither swift nor smooth-sailing. It is a long and tortuous process that takes place in incremental waves.”

    This is the kind of sophistical reasoning that blocks democratic advancement in the country, the idea or implication that it must necessarily take a considerably long period for democracy to flourish. More than any other factor, what it takes is selfless commitment to democratic ideals and practice. The world has generally embraced the concept of “government of the people, for the people and by the people”; and Nigeria must stay on track.

     

  • 2015: No ulterior motive – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC)  have given  reasons for the choice of dates for the  2015 general election.

    Chairman  The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, said the time table  was informed by rational and logical considerations.

    He also explained  that the decision  was  not sentimental or ulterior motivations.

    INEC had scheduled National Assembly and Presidential elections for February 14, 2015, and Governorship as well as State Assembly elections for February 28, 2015.

    According to a statement issued by the electoral body on Sunday, Jega  “said the Commission was mindful of its own operational effectiveness and global best practice in grouping national elections together on one day, and state elections together on another.”

     

  • 2015 poll: INEC ignores calls for shift of election

    2015 poll: INEC ignores calls for shift of election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not keen on altering the dates for next year’s Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and State Assembly elections, despite complaints from certain quarters.

    Saturday, February 14 was picked for the Presidential/National Assembly election and February 28 for the Governorship/State Assembly polls.

    The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) kicked against the presidential election coming up first, saying it was aimed at encouraging a bandwagon effect in favour of the PDP.

    The ACF said it would have been better for INEC to hold all the elections on the same day to “reduce cost and avoid bandwagon effect.”

    It asked the National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act to empower the Commission to hold all the elections on the same day.

    Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State has also faulted the timetable along the same line.

    However, an INEC top official told The Nation yesterday that the Commission has no reason to change the poll timelines.

    The source, a Commissioner, said: “We are constitutionally empowered to conduct elections. Go to sections 76, 178, 116 and 132 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to view the mandate of INEC on dates of elections to be appointed.

    “If you look at Section 25 of the Electoral Act, INEC is expected to organize elections 150 days or 30 days before the expiration of the tenure of office of any holder.”

    The Section, which applies to all political offices, reads: “An election to the office of the President (as applicable to all offices) shall be held on a date to be appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission in accordance with the constitution and this Act.

    “An election to the said office of the President (as applicable to all offices) shall be held on a date not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office.

    “So, we have complied with the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act. No one can ask us to change the timetable and there is no circumstance that could warrant any alteration of our schedule.

    “In 2011, a party even went to court on the timetable and the court said it is the prerogative of INEC to fix election timeline. That has laid any agitation on the 2015 poll timetable to rest.

    “The fact is that there is no enough time at hand to be playing politics with poll timetable; we will not join such fray.”

    Giving an insight into what informed the choice of the election dates, the Commissioner said that in 2011, INEC started with the National Assembly elections followed by the presidential poll and the governorship and State Assembly elections coming last.He said the only change this time around is holding the presidential and National Assembly elections on the same day because it is cost effective.

    “Instead of Nigerians going to the polling station three times as was the case in 2011, it will now be twice in 2015,” he said.

    He denied that the timetable was designed to favour any party or candidate, saying: “In any case, no candidate has even emerged from any party not to talk of favouring him or her. So, we have the National elections coming first and the state elections next in line.

    “There is no way the timetable can lead to a bandwagon effect as being claimed. What bandwagon are we talking about when the National Elections would have been concluded?

    “We gave a two-week gap in between the National Election and State Assembly election to make sure that all logistic challenges are properly addressed.

    “We want a free and fair poll; we want to conduct elections which will be acceptable to all Nigerians.”

    Jega, who spoke on INEC’s preparedness ahead of 2015 elections, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said: “When we fix dates for elections, we stick to them and do not just make changes except something bad happens.

    “In 2011, we had some challenges with the National Assembly elections and had to move it forward by one week.

    “But in 2015 general elections, the dates have been fixed and we do not intend to make changes. We are not prepared as a body to conduct all elections in one day, that is why we are starting with two categories for now,’’ he said

    He said the Commission looked at best global practices before merging the Presidential and National Assembly elections to hold on the same day, while the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections would hold on the same day.

    He also said that the continuous voters’ registration exercise would hold from June to September this year to enable those who had attained the age of 18 to get registered.

    Jega, who had earlier presented a paper at a lecture on “ The 2015 Election and INEC” at the UK Centre for Strategic and International Studies, listed logistics, attitude of the political class and delay in amendment to the legal framework, as some challenges to elections in the country.

    He said that the Commission had taken into consideration some lapses from the Anambra elections, adding that it would not use the Added Voters’ Register (AVR) for the 2015 polls.

    He, however, said that such names would be transferred to the electronic register before elections to avoid what happened during the Anambra governorship election.

    He further said that the Commission had improved on its synergy with security agencies, while stressing the need for police protection for electoral staff especially those at the polling centres.

    The INEC boss also stressed the need for more collaboration with development partners, and listed capacity building and technology as areas where assistance would be required.

    “Such partnership in capacity building will address the problem of skill gaps. We also face a systematic challenge with data gathering, for example, removing names of the deceased from the voter’s register, so we need the right technology for this,” he added.

  • INEC timetable

    INEC timetable

    THERE have been some acute bellyaching and trepidations over the recently released Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable for the 2015 elections. The most notable criticism comes from the bold and ebullient governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso. The leitmotif of the criticisms is of course the fear that it could engender a bandwagon effect once a president is elected, in addition to constituting a coercive effect to compel governors to support the president’s re-election. Bandwagon, however, works both ways. If the APC presidential candidate is elected, and there is no reason he cannot be, should we not also expect a bandwagon?

  • Ekiti APC commences registration

    Ekiti APC commences registration

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), Ekiti State has fixed next Wednesday for the commencement of the registration of members.

    The exercise is expected to last five days.

    Disclosing this in an interaction with journalists in Ado-Ekiti, capital of the state, the interim Chairman of the party, Chief Jide Awe, said the exercise would hold in all 2,190 polling units across the 16 councils of the State.

    Awe appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure proper and timely updating of the voters’ register to avoid hiccups, which marred the election in Anambra state.

    He added that the updated voters’ register must also be made available to the public “at least two weeks before the election day”, noting that it would be necessary to do a delimitation of the voting units to include a list of the new areas which had just opened up in the State since the time of the last election.

    The APC chair assured that no member of the party would be excluded in the registration for whatever excuse.

    Insisting that APC was the most democratic in its internal democracy culture in the country, Awe maintained that the decision to field Governor Kayode Fayemi as its flag bearer in the July elections “is the clear pass mark he (the Governor) has scored in all that he has promised the people of the State through his 8 Point Agenda.”

    Awe added: “This is because we were all impressed by what the Governor has done. The best for justice and for the party is to field Fayemi for another term as Governor.

    “I want to say emphatically that a party may adopt a candidate without primary. All we need to do is to follow due process and at the appropriate time we will do the official affirmation of his candidature and sent to INEC for listing”.

     

     

  • On INEC’s 2015 election timetable

    SIR: The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) commends the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the timely and early release of the 2015 electoral time table. We particularly welcome the gaps provided in between each strand of elections which we believe will offer the commission ample space to make necessary adjustments in the event of any unforeseen developments.

    While we commend INEC for this feat, we hereby remind politicians that the early release of the timetable is not aimed at tempting them to embark on premature campaign activities but to guarantee the commission more time to address all cases of litigation that may arise from the electoral exercise in a timely fashion before the swearing in of the potential winners. This is in the spirit of the Uwais panel recommendations which envisages that all cases relating to election tribunal matters should be concluded in good time ahead of swearing in exercise.

    On the sequencing of election time tables, TMG is aware that the INEC has the constitutional powers to fix election dates as well as determine when and how elections are to be phased. Thus we urge Nigerians to be concerned about the preparedness and capacity of INEC to deliver on the over-flogged promises of credible elections across the country rather than dissipating energy on the sequencing of elections.

    We do not believe that the conduct of the 2015 general elections has anything to do with the proposed national conference. If anything, TMG is aware that both exercises are crucial in the life and existence of Nigeria. While the constitution has stipulated that regular elections must be conducted every four years, the same constitution has empowered the president to make pronouncements or proclamations in the interest of the Nigerian people.

    Finally, we urge all stakeholders to bother more about cogent issues that will enhance the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in 2015 General Elections

     

    • Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi (Chairman)

    Eddy Ezurike (Publicity Secretary)

    Transition Monitoring Group

    Abuja – Nigeria

     

  • Can Inec deliver in 2015?

    Can Inec deliver in 2015?

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed February 14 and 28, 2015 for the general elections. The exercise is a rare opportunity for the umpire to redeem its battered image. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN writes on the challenges that will confront the commission.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the time table for next year’s general elections at a time Nigerians are yet to overcome the agony of the flawed Anambra State governorship election. Unlike 2011, when Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief from the 2007 flawed polls, the nation is in a nightmare. The confidence of the people in the umpire is waning because it has failed to live up to expectation.

    Many have argued that the agency has failed to learn from it mistakes in the Ondo and Edo state governorship elections. Thus, these pitfalls were repeated in theAnambra governorship poll last year.

    Analysts argue that, if the INEC could bungle the election, despite its extensive preparations and resources at his disposal, its capacity to conduct a hitch-free exercie simultaneously in 31 states is in doubt. Although the Chairman of the commission, Prof Attahiru Jega, has promised to rectify the mistakes, the proposed Ekiti and Osun state governorship polls, which will hold this year, are a litmus test for the umpire.

    To conduct credible and transparent elections next year, the agency must avoid the “Anambra mistake,” which had created a credibility crisis for the electoral commissioners.

    Voters’ registration

    The cedibility of an election starts with a credible voter’s register. According to election monitors, registered voters should be able to vote without hindrance A credible voters’ register determines the acceptability of the election results. From experience, many registered voters have been disenfranchised by the INEC. They were turned back by polling officers because their names could not be found on the voter’s register, even when they present voters’ cards issued during the registration .

    In Anambra State, thousands of eligible voters were shocked when they found out that their names have disappeared from the register. In Edo State, there were reports of illegal insertion of names into the voter’s register during the last governorship poll. Also, in Ondo State, the voter’s register was inflated with over 150,000 fake names. In the months preceeding the election, opposition parties had alleged a plot by some powerful politicians to inject fictitious names into the register. But, the commission dismised it as a rumour, saying that critics were raising a false alarm.

    Since the INEC has ruled out electronic voting in 2015, it is imperative that it comes up with a new voter’s register. This will entail fresh registration of eligible voters in the country. The existing voter’s register cannot be relied upon for some reasons. For example, there are allegations that politicians had colluded with some INEC officials to tamper with the register. Most of the machines used for the registration have been stolen. The voter’s register, which the INEC is relying on, is not credible. It is controversial. To avoid rancorous elections next year, the INEC should produce a new register.

    Monitoring of party primaries

    The process through which party candidates emerge is very crucial. The electoral process is in jeopardy when credible aspirants fail to emerge as candidates of political parties. The practice over the years is the imposition of candidates by the party leadership, irrespective of the popular demand. Analysts believe that the imposition of candidates has undermined the nation’s development because wrong people found themselves in the corridor of power. When merit is ignored, the polity will suffer in the post-election period because the beneficiary of the imposition will not perform to expectation. Such candidates are not prepared for the job; they lack the blue print ,which they intend to implement in office.

    The commission should insist that candidates should emerge through primaries, even where party opted for consensus candidates. INEC officials must be present to monitor party primaries to ensure the candidates emerge through the due process.

    A social critic, Bernard Briggs, observed that the imposition of candidates is the root of poor governance. He attibuted the problems confronting the country in the post-Obasanjo period to the imposition of Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as his running mate by the former President. Briggs said that, if Obasanjo had allowed the aspirants to go through primaries, better candidates would have emerged and and the prospects of the inept leadership would have been avoided.

    Briggs urged Nirerians to kick against “god fatherism” in 2015, sayinmg that “it encourages planting incompetent people in strategic positions”.

    The President of the Civil Rights Congress, Mallam Shehu Sanni, said: “The quality of our leadership is a derivative of the quality control of our elections. A credible election must reflect the will of the people. For as long as we allow “god fathers” to have their ways in the selection of candidates, we can never get it right”.

    Security

    Electoral security is very important. When patriotic security agents police the votes, democracy will thrive. “What we have experienced over the years is that security men who are supposed to protect the voters are used by the ruling party to intimidate voters in the stronghold of the opposition. There were cases where uniformed men gave cover to party thugs who snatched electoral materials for thumb printing in hideouts, only for the ballot boxes to resurface later.

    “In the last Anambra governorship poll, the security arrangements were suspect. Policemen pretended as if nothing was happening when some politicians were openly wooing voters at the polling units with money. In the last senatorial election in the Delta Central District, it was alleged that the ruling party employed security agents to intimidate other party agents”, Briggs said.

    In the opinion of the activist, the behaviour of the police and other security men on poll day underscored the desperation of the ruling party to perpetuate itself in office against the wishes of the people. He said security agents are not expected to intimidate voters, adding that they have the mandate to maintain law and order. “It is only in Nigeria that you find security men carrying guns during elections to intimidate voters . Election day is a day when voters should feel free to perform their civic right of electing their leaders without intimidation or molestation,” he stressed.

    Campaigns and rallies

    The Electoral Act stipulates that campaigns and rallies should begin three months to the elections. The INEC is empowered to monitor the rallies of political parties to ensure that the campaigns are issue-driven. But, instead of selling their programmes to the electorate, politicians use the forum to blackmail or run down opponents.The umpire is also expected to regulate the “electoral economy”. One way of doing that is to closely monitor campaign funds, how they are raised and spent by parties. The commission is empowered to sanction parties that go beyond the bench mark. The INEC should also be ready to invoke various provisions in the constitution against electoral malpractices. Electoral officers who collude with politicians and police to commit attrocities against the ballot box should be prosecuted.

    Credibility of polling officials

    It is impossible for the agency to recruit permanent staff for elections, hence, the use of ad-hoc staff. It is cost-effective. However, the umpire should endeavour to recruit people of high integrity. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have been very useful in this regard. But, the commision should organise in-house training for them, two weeks before the election, so that they can understand the election procedure, timing and materials. Experience has shown that some of the ad-hoc staff were not familiar with the electoral process. They learn on the job, thereby slowing down the voting process. The commission should always make sure that the ad-hoc staff allowances are paid promptly. Some adhoc staff had distrupted elections by refusing to move to the assigned polling stations because of unpaid allowances. In Anambra State, students were recruited, shortly before the commencement of the poll, because the NYSC members insisted that they would not work, unless they were paid. Opposition parties later cried out that the students were drawn from the university where one of the running mates was teaching.

    Polling materials

    The late arrival of polling materials is responsible for the late commencement of voting. The accreditation of voters is expected to start by 8.00 a.m. In some cases, polling officers and materials do not get to the polling centre, until 12 noon. This implies that the accreditation cannot take place as planned. Out of frustration, voters often retun home. In the process, they are disenfranchised. Many observers complained about this trend in Ondo, Edo and Anambra polls. The solution is that the INEC should provide transportation for the movement of polling materials and officers to ensure prompt commencement of voting. The difficult terrains, especially riverine areas and deserts, should be given preferential treatment by hiring speed boats and rugged vehicles to convey the materials and polling officers.

    In Edo, many polling stations did not receive voting materials on time. In some areas, voters complained of fake voter’s register, with many names without pictures. The accreditation, which was supposed to end by noon, did not start in many areas until 11a.m. Many eligible voters could not find their names on the register. Many were also disenfranchised because they were not accredited before the close of the accreditation.

    Collation centers

    Rigging is usually perterated during the collation of results. The agency should ensure that the collation centers are accessible and secured. Only party agents should be allowed into the venue. Only ballot boxes accompanied by accredited polling officers and party agents should be received by the collation officers. The result sheets not signed by all party agents should not be accepted. The collation should been done in the presence of party agents and the result be announced on the spot.

  • Insecurity, funding threaten 2015 elections, says Jega

    Insecurity, funding threaten 2015 elections, says Jega

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday listed the challenges before the 2015 elections.

    It promised not to use the Addendum Voter Register (AVR) for the poll.

    The AVR contains the names of those not captured in the Electronic Voter Register (EVR) because of late registration.

    Their names, according to INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, who spoke in the United States (US), will be transferred to the EVR before the elections to avoid what happened during the Anambra State governorship poll in which the AVR was used.

    In a keynote address at the inauguration session of the CSIS Nigeria Forum in Washington DC, Jega listed the challenges as insecurity; funding; attitude of the political class; apathetic and inactive citizenry; delay in amendment to the legal framework; completion of the review of electoral constituencies and polling units and prosecution of election offenders.

    He said since Nigeria was still a country in transition to democracy, its electoral system is “therefore work in progress.”

    In his powerpoint presentation sent to reporters by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kayode Idowu, Jega said: “Plans have been finalised to roll out a programme of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) nationwide. The CVR offers fresh opportunity to get more citizens onto the electronic register ahead of the 2015 general elections as we have stopped using the Addendum Register for elections.

    “Our experience in the recent governorship election in Anambra State showed that we have much work to do in convincing the public of the integrity of the register of voters.

    “The consolidation and de-duplication of the biometric of register of voters has been completed, as a result of which the register of voters now has tremendous integrity, much better than the one with which the 2011 elections were conducted. Indeed, it compares favourably with any register of voters on the African continent.

    “Plans have also been concluded to issue all duly registered voters with chip-based permanent voter cards (PVCs) which will be swiped with card readers in the 2015 elections to ensure 100 percent verification and authentication of voters.”

    Jega assured the Civil Society Forum in the US that the 2015 polls would be successful, saying:  ”From the foregoing, we are convinced that the prospects of having remarkably much better elections in 2015 are very bright. But we harbour no illusion that we have accounted for all the issues that could pose challenges for the elections. In fact, there are still a number of key challenges

    ”As far as INEC is concerned, the 2015 general elections will see Nigeria take its rightful place in the global comity of nations where electoral democracy is being consolidated

    “There are, however, still a number of constraints and challenges facing the Commission, as outlined. These challenges are not insurmountable and we will spare no effort to ensure that the aspirations of Nigerians for free, fair, credible and peaceful elections are actualised in 2015.

    “However, bringing this about and ensuring free, fair, credible and peaceful elections is not a task that INEC alone can deliver

    “All stakeholders have important roles to play. We must change attitudes and mind-sets, as well as strengthen partnerships; and collaborative endeavours, to bring this about.

    “We give assurance that preparations by INEC for the 2015 general elections are proceeding in earnest.

    “Learning from the experiences of 2011, especially regarding the need for early preparations, the Commission has undertaken the task of fundamental restructuring of its bureaucracy, established new policies to guide its work and embarked on far-reaching planning of its operations through a Strategic Plan, an Election Project Plan and an Election Management System. These are vigorously being implemented.”

    He said INEC had been trying to effect changes in the Electoral Act, adding: “Drawing from our experience in 2011, recommendations for improvement to the legal framework, especially the Constitution and the Electoral Act, have been submitted to the National Assembly.

    “A committee (COREC) was set up to review the role of the Commission in election-related litigations, and it has made far-reaching recommendations on improvements towards 2015. A programme for the review of electoral constituencies and creation of additional polling units has commenced.

    “All guidelines and regulations on the electoral process are being revised and discussion has commenced with legal experts across the country on how to enact and gazette them.”

    Describing Nigeria as a country in transition to democracy, Jega said: “We are still nurturing a democratic political culture after many years of military rule and the anti-democratic tendencies it fostered. Our electoral system is therefore work in progress

    “The main task is to implement reform measures, aimed at incremental positive changes that are sustainable. Democratisation, in all societies, is neither swift nor smooth-sailing. It is a long and tortuous process that takes place in incremental waves.”

  • Police train 60,000 ahead of Osun, Ekiti elections

    Police train 60,000 ahead of Osun, Ekiti elections

    No fewer than 60,000 mobile policemen are currently undergoing training at the Mobile Police Training College, Ila Oragun, Osun State ahead of the upcoming governorship elections later in the year in Osun and Ekiti States.

    The mobile policemen are expected to be part of a larger contingent of policemen to be deployed across the country during the 2015 general elections.

    The first batch of the 60,000 cops began their training Friday, last week at the college in Ila-Oragun where 7,000 participants were inaugurated.

    The commencement of the training coincided with the release of the time table for this year governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States as well as the 2015 general polls by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    According to the Commandant of the college, Mr. Jackson Olumuyiwa El-Ekoh, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), the aim of the training programme was to keep the officers and men of the police mobile force combat ready so as to checkmate likely hoodlums or miscreants before, during and after the 2015 general elections.

    The training which would come in series of three month duration for each batch of the participants was at the instance of Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji M.D. Abubakar. According to the Commandant, it was the idea of Abubakar and the IGP was passionate about the programme and he is being briefed on hourly basis about its progress.

    Apart from a combat course for the participants, other aspect of the training would include specialised courses in Electoral Act, Fundamental Human Rights, The Rule of Law, Democracy and Conflict Resolution, Crisis Management, Disaster Management and Operations, Bomb Awareness, Improvised Explosive Devices and Evacuation among others.

    Reading a riot act to those who could not meet the standard of the training, DCP El-Ekoh warned that they would be demobilised and sent back to the conventional arm of the Force.  He reminded the participants of their pledge to make the country safe and secured, noting that the work of the police required discipline, intelligence, integrity and dedication to serve their fatherland.

    Corroborating the college commandant, his deputy, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Mr. Livingstone Orutugu, said the participants would be trained on how to be civil while discharging their statutory duties. He said resource persons are drawn from the universities and professional bodies to compliment the well-rounded and tested personnel of the college.

    The image maker of the college, Mr. Azeez Idowu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), also said the programme started early in 2014 to avoid crisis associated with security during elections. He said the college founded eight years ago had justified the fund expended on it with the marked improvement on the image of the police force. He said: “Officers and men are more civil, crime rate in many parts of the country is going down, there are no road blocks as directed by the Inspector-General of Police, there are no reports of police intimidation and harassment by members of the public. The college training has impacted positively and significantly on the performance of the police.”

    Two of the participants in the first batch of the training programme, a Deputy Superintendent of Ppolice (DSP), Abdul Majeed Issa, and a police corporal, Umoru Haruna, said they are looking forward to a robust experience during their training.

  • INEC decries growing conflicts within parties

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday expressed concern over growing conflicts among contestants within political parties.
    The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, expressed the view in Abuja at the National Youth Conference on the roadmap to the 2015 elections in Nigeria.
    “INEC remains deeply concerned about widespread absence of moderation among Nigerian politicians and growing conflicts within parties and between contestants.
    “This is because even if the management of elections meets the highest standards, insofar as the contestants are unwilling to play by the rules, there will be grave problem.
    “The threats are now exacerbated by insecurity in some parts of the country, making the conduct of elections in those parts even more risk-prone,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the INEC chairman as saying at the forum.
    Jega, represented by a National Commissioner of the commission, Mr. Ismail Igbani, appealed to politicians to avoid provocative statement on the 2015 elections.
    “If you listen to comments of some politicians on 2015 general elections you will assume that Nigeria is preparing for war, “ he said.
    The chairman said the use of language by some politicians was in most cases “ indecorous and encouraging supporters to follow suit with more intemperate language.”
    According to him, parties even find it difficult to select candidates, which create a situation in which practically every nomination process ends in a court case.
    He said the commission had on several occasions, got either directly or vicariously involved in the conflicts and court cases.