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Tag: Inec

  • A season of self-fulfilling prophecies?

    A season of self-fulfilling prophecies?

    For anyone in the presidency or out of it to shout treason because a political party has called for invocation of a provision in the constitution is worrisome

    Robert Merton in his book,Social Theory and Social Structure, defines self-fulfilling prophecy as a prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, by the very terms of the prophecy itself. Our country has been experiencing in the last few days an avalanche of self-fulfilling prophecies that should worry citizens with sensitivity to anything that is likely to threaten democracy.

    One such negative depiction of a situation with the danger of turning into a reality is the fear expressed this week by the Chairman of INEC that there may be no election in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa in 2015 as a result of the security challenges in the three states. He said to members of the National Assembly that should the emergency still be in place by the time of the 2015 election, which his commission plans for February, his commission will not be able to organize election in the three states.

    Some are likely to see this announcement as a sign of good planning ahead by INEC and an illustration of a good leader anticipating (or even predicting) developments that can help or hinder his programme. In this respect, INEC is trying to ensure that there are no surprises, should this happen. Such announcement is a good warning to the government that does not want to call a sectional election a national to do everything possible to bring the insurgency in the three states to an end before the current emergency regulation expires.Jega’s logic is clear: Should violence continue in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe, it will be foolhardy to call people out to vote or to put electoral workers in harm’s way on account of holding elections to fulfill one part of the electoral act and of the constitution.

    But the implications of not holding election in three of 36 states to choose a president for the 36 states are important enough for legal and constitutional lawyers to start worrying about. Non-lawyers have started asking questions that indicate they are worried about having election in 33 states to choose a president that is to rule 36 states. Citizens have started thinking aloud: What is the implication of choosing a candidate who is unable to win 25% of votes cast in two-thirdsof 36 states? Does this mean that there will be an emergency modification of the electoral act to base two-thirds of 36 states on 33 states? What happens if a few months later INEC feels safe to hold election in the three states and the voting in these states changes the overall result of the election that will have already put a candidate in place as president? Will holding election in the three states after choosing a president on the basis of 33 states not amount to engineering a bandwagon effect to favour the sitting president elected on the basis of 33 states? Will the three states be disenfranchised until 2019 once they are not able to participate in the voting in 2015? Is the partial emergency in states that are still being run by elected officials and that are even preparing for local government elections to hold in 2014 similar to the states being at war and are thus too dangerous for citizens who still go to mosques and churches to be givenmaxium security protection while voting?There are many more questions that have come from regular readers of this column that cannot be included in this piece because of space constraint.

    As simple as these questions are, they are pointing at factors that can bring more political problems to a country and an electoral commission that were not able to organize a credible election in Anambra that is not under any emergency. People who were prevented from voting in Anambra at the right time and parties that felt cheated or rigged out are more likely than not to see serious danger in the proposal that election may not hold in three states in 2015. The good thing about Jega’s discussion with legislators is that it can serve as an indirect call on the federal government to ensure that no section of the country is treated in 2015 as if it is already excised from Nigeria. According to President Jonathan, emergency regulation came into force in the three states because that section had already started feeling and acting as if it was no longer part of Nigeria. Not holding election in the three states is to give the impression that Nigeria can go forward without them. In other words, the challenge for the federal government is to bring the Boko Haram terrorism to an end within the period of the ongoing emergency. Otherwise, we may be running the risk of having a situation in which a negative view of something becomes part of the character of that thing over time, and, in the process, act in a way to suggest that the three states are no longer part of Nigeria.

    Calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it appears to be part of the season’s negative characterizations. Members of the country’s other major party, the APC, are already being accused of treason for calling on members of the National Assembly to commence a process to impeach President Jonathan. Impeachment is in a presidential system similar to calling for a vote of no confidence in the prime minister in a parliamentary system. Both are part of the checking and balancing devices built into democratic system of government to make treasonable acts by any group—military or civilian unnecessary. Impeachment process is to further strengthen the democratic process, by ensuring that those who have reasons to believe that the president or prime minister is not doing the right thing would not have any reason to engage in an illegal action to save the system from such leaders. Those who call for impeachment do not always have to be right; they also do not always get their way. But the right to call for impeachment is unassailable in a proper democracy.

    For example, attempts were made to impeach President Bill Clinton during his presidency but those who called for and initiated the process lost out, because majority of the legislators did not believe that President Clinton had done anything impeachable. However, invoking this principle helped to further reinforce the presidential system as it made those for and against impeachment happy that the system had been allowed to take its course. Those who wanted Clinton impeached had their say while those who believed that Clinton had not committed any impeachable offence had their way during the voting, and Clinton’s rating even soared after that. It was a win-win situation for democracy.

    For anyone in the presidency or out of it to shout treason because a political party has called for invocation of a provision in the constitution is worrisome. It gives the impression that there are people in the country’s post-military democracy that still harbor the imagination of military dictators. Democracy presupposes the existence of ruling and non-ruling or opposition parties. Opposition parties are allowed in all democracies to convince voters that they had made the wrong choice by putting the incumbent in power, when such parties have reasons to so believe. Opposition parties also have the right to invoke any section of the constitution that they believe can be used to improve governance or jolt the ruling party into consciousness. Equating calls for impeachment process with treasonable act is tantamount to calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it. Our democracy is not likely to develop if members of the ruling group do not want other parties in contest for votes and power to do their own job: ensuring that the ruling party does not take citizens for granted in its policies and performance.

  • 2015: INEC to introduce technology for voters identification

    2015: INEC to introduce technology for voters identification

    Ahead of the 2015 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Friday said it had concluded arrangements to deploy a technology that will identify and authenticate voters on election day.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, also said the Commission was working hard to perfect its election day logistics.

    The INEC Chairman said that the electoral body had taken delivery of a greater portion of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVC).

    INEC, Jega further said, would start issuing the PVC to registered voters from next year.

    He spoke during a workshop on media and commuication strategy for INEC information personnel and press corps in Abuja.

    Jega, who was represented by Dr. Nuhu Yakubu, a commissioner in the Commission said, “as we count down to the next general election in 2015, we are increasingly fine-tuning our work processes to ensure that we deliver elections that are free, fairer and more credible than we had in 2011.

    “We have cleaned out the national register of voters after full consolidation and running of Automated Finger-print Identification System (AFIS), introduction of smart card technology to improve the accreditation of voters through rigorous voters identification and authentication process on election day.

    “The Commission has so far taken delivery of a greater portion of these smart Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), which we will begin issuing to registered voters from next year.

    “We have concluded plans for the rollout of nationwide continous voters registration exercise, which will allow those who are not on the biometrics register at present to get captured.”

    Jega further added: “We are working very hard to perfect our processes for election day logistics, so that we can ensure timely commencement of voting in all polling units and seamless collation procedures.”

    Jega however observed that “ensuring credible elections is not a one-way street. It is not the task of INEC alone; rather, it is a multiple-stakeholder endeavor that requires collaboration and diligent commitment of other role players. In particular, the media and our information personnel have a lot of roles to play in civic enlightment, voter education and molding public perception of the electoral process.”

  • ‘INEC can’t disenfranchise states’

    ‘INEC can’t disenfranchise states’

    The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against disenfranchising the people of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa in 2015.

    The warning followed a declaration by INEC Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega that election would not hold in the three states, if the state of emergency imposed on them by the Federal Government is still in force.

    In a statement yesterday by the PDM Chairman, Mallam Bashir Ibrahim, the party said INEC should not hide under the state of emergency to disenfranchise the people.

    Ibrahim said: “Jega’s latest pronouncement is in tandem with the now familiar strategy of the Federal Government to prolong the insurgency in those states.

    “The plan is to continue emergency rule and use it as an excuse to disenfranchise voters in that zone because the government knows it cannot win a free and fair election in those states.

    “Clearly, there is no love lost between the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan and some sections of the country.

    “It is the duty of government to cater for the welfare and security of its citizenry. Hence, no eligible Nigerian voter should, on account of insecurity not caused by him or her, be excluded from voting in the 2015 polls.

    “Let the Federal Government resolve the crisis in the Northeast and in the country to have a peaceful, free and fair election. We will resist any attempt to disenfranchise Nigerians under any guise.

    “Instead of disenfranchising citizens for no fault of theirs, the PDP-controlled central government should tackle insecurity in the Northeast.”

  • PDM to INEC: You can’t disenfranchise Borno, Yobe, Adamawa

    The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against disenfranchising the people of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States in the 2015 general elections.

    The warning is coming on the heels of a declaration by the INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega that election would not hold in the three states where a state of emergency imposed by the Federal Government is still in force.

    In a statement issued on Wednesday by the PDM chairman, Mallam Bashir Ibrahim, the party said INEC should not hide under the state of emergency in the three states to disenfranchise the people.

    Mallam Ibrahim said: “Jega’s latest pronouncement is in tandem with the now familiar strategy of the Federal Government to prolong the insurgency in those states.

    “The plan is to continue emergency rule and use it as an excuse to disenfranchise millions of voters in that zone because the government knows it cannot win a free and fair election in those states.

    “Clearly, there is no love lost between the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan and some sections of the country.

    “It is the constitutional duty of government to cater for the welfare and security of its citizenry. Hence, no eligible Nigerian voter should, on account of insecurity not caused by him or her, be excluded from voting in the 2015 polls.

    “Let the Federal Government resolve the crisis in the North East and all over country in order to have a peaceful, free and fair general election. We will resist any attempt to disenfranchise Nigerians under any guise.

    “Instead of disenfranchising citizens for no fault of theirs, the Peoples Democratic Party-controlled central government should as a matter of urgency, tackle insecurity in the North East.”

    The party also deplored what it described as the deliberate stifling of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which currently has no funds to prosecute corruption cases.

     

     

  • INEC seeks powers to disqualify candidates

    INEC seeks powers to disqualify candidates

    •Makes case for Diaspora voters

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is seeking powers to disqualify candidates who do not satisfy the requirements for the positions they are contesting for.

    The electoral umpire wants its independence to be constitutionally guaranteed in all its operations and in its management and control of the electoral process, as was the case in Decree (now Act) 17 of 1998 which first established the Commission before the 1999 Constitution.

    It also wants any person convicted of an electoral offence to be disqualified for 10 years from the date of conviction from contesting any election or holding any party office.

    INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega spoke at a retreat on the 2010 Electoral Act organised by the Senate Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution.

    Jega said: “With such decisions as Atiku Abubakar V INEC and the proviso to Section 31 of the amended Electoral Act, the Commission has no right to prevent even an obviously unqualified or disqualified person from being on the ballot.

    “For example, it cannot prevent an under-aged or foreign citizen from contesting the election, even when this is obvious from the documents submitted or even a person who admits that he presented a forged certificate to the Commission if it seeks to disqualify such persons. The Commission must go to court. This is not desirable.

    “Paragraph F, item 15 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria1999 (as amended) dealing with the powers of the Commission to be further amended by inserting the clause ‘disqualify candidates who evidently do not satisfy the requirements for the position he/she is contesting for as provided’ in relevant Sections of the Constitution.

    Jega said that it should be enacted a new Section (3) to Section 158 providing as follows Section 158(3) “The Independent National Electoral Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other authority or person in all its operations”.

    He said the Commission shall notify the political party of the disqualification of its candidate and the grounds for the disqualification.

    The INEC boss said it was desirable that every candidate who aspires to govern shall be a registered voter.

    He said the clause “he is registered to vote” should be inserted as paragraph to sub Section(2) of Section 65 and as paragraph (e) of Sections 106, 131 and 177 of the Constitution.

    On disqualification of electoral offenders, Jega said any person convicted of an Electoral Offence (including registration offence, campaign finance breaches and breach of political party finance provision) should be disqualified for a period of 10 years from the date of the conviction from contesting any election or holding party position.

    He would like the clause ‘Within a period of 10 years before the date of the election, he has been convicted of an electoral offence by a court of tribunal” inserted immediately after each of paragraph (d) of Sections 66, 107,137,and 182 of the Constitution.

    Jega said interested Nigerians who are of age but resident overseas should be allowed to register and vote.

    He said that the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) empowers INEC to deregister political parties that fail to win at least a seat in a state Assembly.

    The chairman spoke also on the clamour for the registration of more parties, saying it continued to rise.

    He said that whereas the Constitution allows for freedom of association it is practically impossible to have all registered political parties on the ballot.

    Jega said that INEC should be empowered, in consultation with political parties to determine the criteria for getting on the ballot.

    The criteria, in his view, should include payment of fees prescribed by the Commission, securing of certain percentage of votes at general elections and winning seats in the legislative election.

    Jega said Sections 134 and 179 of the Constitution, which deals with Presidential and governorship election should be amended by adding the word “valid” before “vote” wherever this appears in the Sections so as to remove any ambiguity.

    Candidates “should be elected on valid votes cast only”.

    Jega suggests the establishment of an Electoral Offences Tribunal to guarantee timely prosecution of electoral offenders.

    He said INEC should be empowered to appoint dates the presidential, governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections will hold.

    Jega suggested that Section 8 of the Electoral Act be amended to include a statutory tenure for the Secretary of the Commission to wit: “The secretary shall serve for a period of four years which may be renewable or another period of four years only.”

    The INEC chief suggested that political parties be made to substitute their unqualified candidates with the second runners up during the primaries.

    He said: “It is suggested that subsection (6) of Section 31 be amended to make provision that where the court finds that a candidate submitted by a political party did not meet the qualifications required for contesting the election.

    “Where, however, the person has been elected, the court shall order the person to vacate the office and the candidate with the second highest votes cast who has met constitutional requirement for the post shall be declared elected.

    “This suggestion is to avoid the waste of public funds to repeat election consequent upon removal of disqualified candidates.”

    He recommended that subsection (8) of Section 31 be amended to increase the fine awarded against a political party which submits the name of an unqualified candidate to the Commission.

    “This is because the fine provided therein is inadequate as a deterrent. Thus, Section 31 be amended in subsection (8) by substituting for the figure N500,000 the figure N1million,” Jega said.

    He added: “Guided by the provisions of Section 87 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) which requires candidates of political parties to emerge from democratically conducted primary elections, it is recommended that where a candidate who won a primary election and whose name was submitted to the Commission dies or withdraws from the election, the political party which nominated that candidate shall submit to the Commission the name of the candidate who scored the second highest number of votes at the primaries as the substitute candidate.

    “Section 45 allows political parties to notify the Commission of the appointment of Polling Agents in writing at least seven days before the date of the election. In order to give political parties sufficient time to sort out who their agents should be. It is suggested that the time should be extended to 14 day.

    “Sections 48, 49, 50, 52, 54, 55, and 60 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) which provide details on the procedure to vote at an election are restrictive and do not allow for improvement on procedure for voting. It is suggested that INEC be allowed, through Regulations/Guidelines, to determine the mode of voting at an election.

    “Section 77 provides for access to polling documents. Political parties and candidates should be allowed to inspect polling documents, but the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) should only release Certified True Copies (CTCs) not the original documents.

    “Section 77 should be amended accordingly. It is however suggested that in view of the number of applications and the volume of the documents required, the time within which the REC shall certify or cause certified true copies of the documents to be issued should be reviewed upward from seven days to 14 days.

    “Whereas subsection (6) of Section 100 of the Electoral Act makes provisions to sanction any media house that violates the provisions of Section 100 of the Electoral A t, no sanction is provided similar to Section 101 against principal officers of the media house involved in the crime. Provision should therefore be made to sanction principal officers and other officers of the media house involved in the crime.

    “Thus Section 100 be amended by substituting for the existing subsection (6) a new subsection “(6)” – ‘100(6) Any person who contravenes subsections (3) and (4) of this sections commits an offence and upon conviction is liable: (a) in the case of a public media to a maximum of fine of N500,000 in the first instance and to a maximum fine of N1million or subsequent conviction; and in the case of principal officer(s) and other officer(s) of the media house to a maximum fine of N500,000 or go imprisonment for a term of 12 months.’

    “Paragraph 51(1) and 51(2) should be deleted as it contradicts Section 137(3) of the Act which says the petitioner need not join the Electoral Officer, Polling Officer, or Returning Officer.

    “Furthermore, the Commission is an independent body established by the Constitution, it is unconstitutional for a schedule to require it or its officials o consult or seek the approval or consent of the Attorney General in any matter in court. The Commissions’s discretion should be completely unfettered. The reference to the Attorney General in this schedule should be deleted.”

    He said even though the Constitution empowers the Commission to create electoral constituencies subject to approval of the National Assembly, “experience has shown that the National Assembly may delay consideration of the proposal.”

    He added: “It is recommended that a provision be made in the Electoral Act stating that when the proposal for creation of constituencies is made to the National Assembly, the proposal shall be deemed approved if no response from the National Assembly is received by the Commission within a period of three months from the date of presentation.”

  • Shettima, Geidam reject Jega’s proposal

    Shettima, Geidam reject Jega’s proposal

    •Say election must hold in states 2015

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima yesterday said plans to suspend election in Borno, Yobe and other insurgency flashpoints in 2015 is a defeatist approach and a setback for Nigeria.

    His Yobe State counterpart, Ibrahim Geidam, said the plan will give Boko Haram a feeling of triumph.

    Their comments followed a statement by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, that election might not hold in flashpoint states.

    But Geidam said the December 28 local government election will go on as planned.

    Shettima said he is hopeful that peace would have returned to states which Boko Haram has been holding hostage.

    He said a special security arrangement for the affected states would have been better than out rightly succumbing to Boko Haram threats.

    The governor stated that Borno is safer now than when the 2011 poll was conducted.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Communication, Mallam Isa Gusau, the governor said: “One important thing we should not ignore as a sovereign country is that suspending national election on account of Boko Haram activities would amount to making the insurgents supreme over the republic, it will be defeatist on our part as a nation.

    “The goal of Boko Haram is to impose its beliefs on us, subvert our constitution and our democracy and replace them with inhuman laws that support killings and destructions and should we suspend election in any part of the country, the insurgents would be presupposed successful on their part and itching close to achieving their goals and we cannot allow that.

    “We must insist that Nigeria is our sovereign country, we are the majority and a few cannot violently force their views on us.

    “I expect that as a strategy, Borno and Yobe and indeed any place so affected by the insurgents, should be the main focus for conduct of the 2015 elections so that we send a clear message to those who want us to go into extinction that we will not cave in to their violent needs, we will move on.

    “This is why, governance hasn’t for one day, stopped in Borno State. With Allah’s help made through the sacrifices, rooted support and prayers of our citizens, we have continued to rebuild and reinvent our very dear state.

    “I, therefore, call on the Federal Government, stakeholders and friends of Nigeria to look at the issue with analytical mindset far beyond what reasons we might be talking about now.

    Geidam made his position known in a statement through his Special Adviser on Press Affairs and Information, Abdullahi Bego. He said: “There is no reason why Boko Haram should not be routed out by security forces.

    “The state of emergency in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states, renewed for additional six months last November, is due to expire in April.

    “By INEC’s own estimation, the 2015 general elections will hold in January-February 2015. That’s at least eight months after the current state of emergency would have lapsed. Is the INEC National Chairman therefore predicting that the emergency situation will extend indefinitely?

    “The Yobe State government also believes that there is no reason why Boko Haram terrorists would not be routed, their activities stopped and peace and stability restored within the remaining months of the current emergency rule.”

  • 2015: INEC to spend N92.9b

    2015: INEC to spend N92.9b

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may require N92.9 billion for the conduct of the 2015 elections, it was learnt yesterday.

    Elections may not hold in some parts of the Northeast, if insecurity persists, according to INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, who spoke at a stakeholders’ forum organised by the Senate Committee on INEC, in collaboration with Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Abuja and the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) Nigeria.

    Jega, who spoke on “Preparations and challenges ahead of 2015 general elections”, said it was not true that the cost of the 2011 general elections was high.

    He noted that in preparing for the 2015 elections, one guiding principle for the Commission had been to make elections more cost-effective and to give Nigerians better value for money.

    He added: “Our estimate is that the cost of the election per voter, which is an international standard for viewing the cost of election, is coming down in Nigeria.

    “We project that for the 2015 elections, this would come further down by almost $1- from $8.8 in 2011 to $7.9, representing almost a 10 per cent drop.

    “This compares favourably with some other African countries. However, we are anxious about getting all our funding requirement being met well in advance of the 2015 general elections.”

    Jega said Ghana spent $10 per voter during its last election while Kenya spent between $8.5 to $9 per voter.

    Nigeria has about 73.5 million registered voters.

    The INEC boss assured that “preparations by INEC for the 2015 general election are very good and proceeding in earnest”.

    He added: “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.

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

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

    “Learning from the experience of 2011, especially regarding the need for early preparations, the Commission has undertaken the task of fundamental restructuring of the Commission, established new policies to guide its work and embarked on far reaching planning of its activities through strategic plan, an election project plan and an election management system.”

    On security challenges, he noted that if there was a generalised systemic insecurity in the country, it may be difficult to conduct a free and fair election in 2015.

    Jega listed specifically insurgency in the Northeast, armed robbery and kidnapping as part of the systemic challenges the Commission would like the Federal Government to address and resolve before the 2015 election.

    He said, “We hope the present security challenges in parts of Northeast will be overcome before the 2015 general elections. But if it persists, we may be compelled to postpone or cancel elections in the affected areas.

    Jega spoke of a vacancy for a House of Representatives seat in Yobe State, but he said INEC had not conducted an election because of insecurity.

    The INEC boss said the Commission, he said, is concerned about widespread absence of moderation among politicians 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 problems.”

    He said: “The Commission remains deeply concerned about growing conflicts within parties and between contestants.

    “The use of language is in most cases indecorous, encouraging supporters to follow suit with even more intemperate language and ultimately fueling violence.

    “Parties even find it difficult to select candidates, creating a situation in which practically every nomination process in Nigeria ends in a court case.

    “In most instances, the Commission gets either directly or vicariously involved in these conflicts and court cases.

    “Indeed, some of the pre-election court cases in the past threatened to derail preparations for elections.

    “Of particular note is the spate of ex parte injunctions that have been issued the Commission.

    “It seems to me that a primary source of the problem here is lack of internal party democracy, resulting from lack of commitment to party rules.”

    On the review of the Electoral Constituencies and polling units, Jega hoped that Nigerians would support INEC’s efforts to successfully complete the exercise.

    TO him, “the prospects of having remarkable much better elections in 2015 are very bright”.

    “But we habour no illusion that we have accounted for all issues that could pose challenges for the elections. In fact, there are still a number of key challenges,” Jega said.

  • Anambra poll: INEC has no record of election staff

    Anambra poll: INEC has no record of election staff

    For the fourth day running, the Awka, Anambra State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has failed to produce a list of permanent and ad hoc staff deployed by the electoral umpire for the November 16, 17 and 30 elections.

    Besides, INEC is yet to produce the voter register ordered for any ward, except for one in Aguata Local Government Area.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) lawyers have been inspecting election materials for four days, without the required staff list that forms part of the documents ordered to be produced for inspection and copying.

    INEC officials pleaded for patience to enable them produce the list today.

    A source close to INEC said the list does not exist, adding that “it is being put together now”.

    An official, who was a Polling Assistant in Idemili North, was overheard at the INEC office in Awka venting her frustrations because she was asked to complete another form last Friday.

    According to her, “they told us that the arrested Electoral Officer for Idemili North has the list of all the staff who worked in the elections for Idemili North, so we cannot be paid until another list is constructed”.

    INEC is yet to provide the voucher for payment of electoral staff, another vital document requested by APC lawyers and ordered by the Gubernatorial Election Tribunal.

    “We will give them the benefit of the doubt till tomorrow as they requested,” Bona Oraekwe, member of the legal team said.

    The tribunal, headed by Justice J K Kaigama, last Wednesday, ordered INEC to avail APC of election materials used for the conduct of the governorship elections. They include voter register for the three-phased elections. The court also granted the prayers of Emeka Ngige (SAN), leading a team of other lawyers for INEC to produce Forms EC8A,EC8B EC8C,EC8D, EC8G,EC8E (results sheets at all levels) used for the elections.

  • 2015 elections to gulp N92.9b – Jega

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may require N92.9 billion for the conduct of 2015 elections.

    Also the election may not hold in parts of the northeast if insecurity persists in the area.

    The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, gave the hint on Monday at a stakeholders’ forum organized by the Senate Committee on INEC in collaboration with Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) Abuja and United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) Nigeria.

    Jega, who spoke on “Preparations and challenges ahead of 2015 general elections, “ said that it was not true that the cost of the 2011 general elections was high.

    He noted that in preparing for the 2015 elections, one guiding principle for the commission has been to make elections more cost-effective and to give Nigerians better value for money.

    He added, “Our estimate is that the cost of the election per voter, which is an international standard for viewing the cost of election, is coming down in Nigeria.

    “We project that for the 2015 elections this would come further down by almost $1- from $8.8 in 2011 to $7.9, representing almost a 10 per cent drop.

    “This compares favourably with some other African countries. However, we are anxious about ensuring that all our funding requirement being met well in advance of the 2015 general elections.”

    Jega said that Ghana spent $10 per voter during its last election while Kenya spent between $8.5 to $9 per voter

    Currently, Nigeria has about 73.5 million registered voters.

    The INEC boss assured that “preparations by INEC for the 2015 general election are very good and proceeding in earnest.”

     

     

  • Jega to RECs: Ensure success of 2015 elections

    Jega to RECs: Ensure success of 2015 elections

    The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Thursday urged Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to strive towards a successful 2015 general elections.

    He made the call at the quarterly meeting with the RECs in Abuja.

    He explained that the RECs had recently participated in an election skill management seminar to prepare them for the challenges ahead.

    “This is to enable them to identify risk factors that can serve as a challenge to the conduct of the election,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the INEC boss as saying at the meeting.

    Jega said that there should be an effective working relationship at all levels, adding that the commission was saddled with two major assignments as the general election drew nearer.

    He said the assignments were the continuous voter registration and the preparation of constituencies in readiness for the elections.

    He stressed that it was essential that the RECs did their best to ensure that the tasks were accomplished.

    The chairman said that the lessons learnt from the Anambra elections would be factored into the conduct of subsequent elections.