The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Inec

  • Poor funding threatens INEC’s operations – Jega

    Poor funding threatens INEC’s operations – Jega

    The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday decried under funding of the commission, saying it was a big threat to its operations.

    He made the statement at the quarterly meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja.

    Jega said that in spite of its enormous responsibility to the nation, the commission was not getting adequate funding.

    “It is a very challenging task indeed, because a lot of the activities required funds and budgetary provisions. Regrettably, we don’t always get what we need all the times, to be able to address the challenges.’’

    “There is the need to fund INEC properly for it to be able to carry out its functions; poor funding is a big threat to INEC’s operations,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the INEC chairman as saying at the meeting.

    Jega said the commission would continue to engage government and the lawmakers, to have more resources to be able to improve the working conditions and other needs to make its job satisfactory.

    He, however, stressed that INEC could not afford any delay in the execution of its programmes toward 2015 general elections.

    The chairman said the activities of the electoral body required that the trend be reversed in good time for effectiveness and efficiency of the commission.

    He said that in spite of challenges facing the commission, “remarkable progress” had been recorded under his stewardship.

     

  • INEC lists Ukachukwu as Anambra PDP candidate

    INEC lists Ukachukwu as Anambra PDP candidate

    The Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sank deeper into crisis yesterday in the rundown to the November 16 governorship election.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last night recognised Nicholas Ukachukwu as the PDP governorship candidate. The electoral umpire based its decision on an order given by the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, last week.

    In all, 23 political parties nominated governorship candidates and their deputies for the election. INEC, in the statement, by Kayode Idowu, its spokesman, claimed that it had published the full list on its website. But a check by The Nation revealed that the list was yet to be published on the website as at 8.40 pm, yesterday.

    Dr. Chris Ngige is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate while Willy Obiano is the All Progressives Grand Alliance candidate.

    Part of the statement read: “In line with the provisions of Section 31 (3) of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has today, September 24th, 2013, published the Form CF001 (Personal Particulars of Candidate) of candidates nominated by political parties for the November 16 Governorship Election in Anambra State. The comprehensive list as signed by the Secretary to the Commission is attached and has been placed on the Commission’s website.

    “A total of 23 political parties nominated candidates for the governorship and deputy governorship slots. Two political parties, namely the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had issues with the candidates they intend to sponsor before the closure of nominations on September 17th, 2013. But the Federal High Court in Awka eased the contention over APGA’s nomination by vacating its order directing the Commission to accept two governorship candidates from the party.

    “For the PDP, the Commission resolved to list Nicholas Chukwuejekwu Ukachukwu as the governorship candidate in accordance with the latest order as delivered by the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/296/2013 – Nicholas Chukwuejekwu Ukachukwu vs. Dr. Tony Nwoye & 3 Ors.

    “The Commission hereby advises political parties and their members that only those on the list published by it are allowed to conduct electioneering campaigns. Any violation of this rule amounts to an electoral offence and security agencies are urged to intervene as such”.

    Justice S A Aliyu of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had on September 17, the date for the final submission of the names and particulars of candidates by parties, ruled that Ukachukwu is the bona fide candidate of the PDP in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/296/2013 – Nicholas Chukwuejekwu Ukachukwu vs. Dr. Tony Nwoye & 3 Ors filed by Ukachukwu’s lawyer, Mr Rickey Tafa.

    But the party has consistently maintained that Nwoye remains its candidate for the election. Briefing reporters after the party’s weekly National Working Committee meeting, its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, affirmed the party’s readiness to appeal the decision. It could not be verified last night if it has appealed the ruling.

    Before the judgment, the party had been split into two following the emergence of two candidates from the two different primaries conducted by the two factions of the party in the state. While Nwoye emerged from the primary conducted by Prince Kenneth Emeakayi at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Senator Andy Uba picked the ticket at the primary held at Emmaus House by the Ejike Oguebego faction.

    But all hope is not lost for the party as it still has up to October 2, to effect any change it wants to make on its list. Section 35(1) of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, gives the parties and candidates opportunity to do so, provided it is not less 45 days to the election.

  • 2015: Don’t overheat polity, Jega cautions politicians

    2015: Don’t overheat polity, Jega cautions politicians

    he Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, has urged politicians not to overheat the polity.

    He was reacting to political developments in the country ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    Prof Jega spoke yesterday at the third quarterly consultative meeting between INEC and political parties in Abuja.

    He urged politicians to engage in acts that promote peaceful conducts.

    The INEC chairman reminded them that the electoral law forbids some of their actions.

    He said: “As we inch along towards the 2015 general elections, we have been intensifying efforts to ensure full readiness in all fundamental respects. We, therefore, continue to solicit for your cooperation, partnership and support to ensure that we deliver free, fair and credible elections to Nigerians in 2015.

    “In particular, we urge you to do everything possible to sanitise the polity. You must have an enlightened self-interest, because seeping and sustaining our democracy is in the best interest of all politicians, as it is for all citizens. We must avoid the temptation to throw away the baby with the bath water. You must stop overheating the polity. You must continue to promote peaceful conduct and civility in political engagements and electioneering.

    “You must stop the rising tendency towards thuggery in campaigns and elections. In recent bye-elections, we saw disruptions of the electoral process caused by thuggery. This must be stopped in order not to undermine our aspirations for credible and peaceful elections in 2015.”

     

  • Jega to politicians: Don’t overheat polity ahead of 2015

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, has again expressed his concern over ongoing development in the country’s polity ahead of 2015 elections.

    Speaking on Tuesday at the third Quarterly Consultative meeting between INEC and political parties in Abuja, Jega urged politicians to engage in acts that will help promote peaceful conducts and not to overheat the polity.

    He also reminded them that the electoral law forbids some of their actions.

    He said: “As we inch along towards the 2015 general elections, we have been intensifying effort to ensure full readiness in all fundamental respects. We therefore continue to solicit for your cooperation, partnership and support to ensure that we deliver free, fair and credible elections to Nigerians in 2015.

    “In particular we urge you to do everything possible to sanitize the polity. You must have an enlightened self-interest, because seeping and sustaining our democracy in the best interest of all politicians, as it is for all citizens. We must avoid the temptation to throw away the baby with the bath water. You must stop overheating the polity. You must continue to promote peaceful conduct and civility in political engagements and electioneering.

    “You must stop the rising tendency towards thuggery in campaigns and elections. In recent bye-elections we saw disruptions of the electoral process caused by thuggery, this must be stopped in order not to undermine our aspirations for credible and peaceful elections in 2015.

    “Let me also use this opportunity to draw your attention to the following; political parties are reminded to be mindful of the provisions of Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended which limits campaign periods to commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours to polling day. The penalty for breach is provided in Section 99(2) (a) & (b).”

    Jega also cautioned political parties against presenting candidates in states where they do not have any presence.

     

  • Anambra poll: Court voids Nwoye’s candidacy

    The crisis over who flies the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State has taken a new twist.

    A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has voided the candidacy of Mr. Tony Nwoye who emerged winner of the August 14 primary election conducted by the Ken Emeakayi- led faction of the Anambra PDP.

    The suit was filed by one of the governorship aspirants of the PDP for the Anambra election, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/296/2013 on August 28.

    Ukachukwu, through his lead counsel, Mr. Rickey Tarfa SAN, had sought the leave of the court to void Nwoye’s candidature as declared by the PDP and accepted by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    In judgment delivered by Jusice S. A Aliyu on Tuesday, the court held that Nwoye was not eligible to participate in the August 24 primary election conducted under the supervision of Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State.

    The judge declared Ukachukwu the candidate of the PDP for the election on the ground that he was the only qualified aspirant in the said primary election.

    According to Justice Aliyu, Ukachukwu scored the highest number of votes cast at the election. He restrained Nwoye from parading himself as the candidate of the PDP for the election.

    The judge also restrained the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, leadership of the party and the INEC from presenting Nwoye as candidate for the poll.

    “It is hereby declared that based on the dictates of paragraph 4(a) of Part IV of the Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections 2010 of the Peoples Democratic Party, the first defendant (Tony Nwoye) was not eligible to participate and or take part in the gubernatorial primary election conducted on the 24th day of August 2013 by the 2nd defendant (PDP) for the selection of its candidate for the Anambra State governorship election scheduled to hold on November 16, 2013 or another date.

    “An order of mandatory injunction is hereby made compelling the 4th defendant (INEC) to recognise, screen the plaintiff (Ukachukwu), publish and put his name on the ballot paper as the authentic candidate of the 2nd defendant (PDP) for the Anambra State governorship election scheduled to take place on November 16, 2013 or any other date,” Justice Aliyu ruled.

     

  • Anambra: Court oders PDP, INEC to recognise factions

    A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on Thursday ordered the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and INEC to recognise and deal with the two PDP factions in Anambra.
    The presiding Judge, Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa gave the order in Port Harcourt, while ruling on a motion by a factional chairman of the PDP in Anambra, Ejike Oguebego.
    Oguebego’s faction had filed a motion, praying the court to declare Sen. Andy Uba as the party’s candidate for the Nov. 16 governorship election in the state.
    The faction also prayed the court to direct INEC and National Working Committee of PDP not to recognise, Ken Emeakayi’s faction of the PDP in the state, which produced Tony Nwoye as its candidate for the election.
    Nganjiwa in his ruling, directed that the order should stay pending the determination of a suit.
    The judge also ordered the two factions to maintain the status quo and obey the order made by a Federal High court in Akwa, Anambra, on May 31
    The National Working Committee of the PDP had recognised the Emeakayi’s faction of party that produced Mr Tony Nwoye as its governorship candidate for the Nov. 16 election.
    Mr. Jude NNodum, counsel to Andy Uba’s faction of PDP, said Ken Emeakayi had been suspended from the party and lacked the power to conduct a primary election that produced Nwoye.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge had after giving the order, announced that he was handing off the matter.
    He said his decision was due to a petition he received from Ekem Ekem law firm on Thursday, adding that he would inform the Chief Judge of Federal High Court and await his directive.
    “I will not hear this matter again until I see my chief judge,’’ Nganjiwa said.
     Mr. Mmecha Kanu, counsel to PDP said the judge should continue with the matter, having made the orders and described as it ‘’far reaching’’.

    Nganjiwa, however, adjourned the case to Sept 17.

  • Anambra: Relocation will not affect voters – INEC

    Anambra: Relocation will not affect voters – INEC

    Voters in Anambra State who could have been disenfranchised due to relocation have been assured of partaking in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Prof. Chikwuemeka Onokaogu, said such people should approach the commission a month before the election to effect necessary changes that will afford them the opportunity to participate in the election.

    Besides, he said the issue of late deployment of election materials will not arise in the coming election, saying a refined logistics management process had been put in place to ensure prompt and efficient distribution of materials on the day of the election.

    Onukaogu also allayed the fears of election monitors on security, saying that adequate security measures are already in place to ensure safety during the election process.

    The REC spoke on Monday during a Civil Society/ INEC dialogue on Anambra State governorship election organized by Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC).

    The dialogue was attended by accredited civil society groups for the election and INEC staff.

    He said the issue of intra-state transfer will be handled, stressing that the affected people should come forward when they are sure of where they will be during the election and their cards would be changed to reflect the new address.

     

     

  • INEC denies alleged financial misdeed

    INEC denies alleged financial misdeed

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said there is no proof on the recent allegation of financial misdeed against the commission.

    In a statement yesterday by Mr Kayode Idowu, the chief press secretary to the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, the commission said the report was aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the management.

    The statement reads: “The INEC has observed a recent campaign by partisan interests in the media to tar the reputation of its leadership, particularly the Chairman, Prof Jega.

    “This campaign has so far been waged in the form of serial press reports of alleged financial misdeeds, either directly committed or approved by the Chairman of the Commission. Expectedly, the reports were no more than wild allegations, with no iota of proof or evidence to substantiate them. Few of these reports indeed crossed the line of journalistic decorum, and are accordingly being processed for libel litigation.

    “But the Commission also has information that the campaign will not be left at the level of press reports alone. There are reportedly designs to upscale the plot into public displays of hostility towards INEC, such as through rented street rallies against its present leadership, among other measures.

    “The whole point of this devious campaign, obviously, is to deflate the integrity of the Commission and cast doubt on its credibility and ability to conduct the 2015 General Election in accordance with international best standards.

    “The Commission hereby reassures the public of its commitment to uphold its integrity, fairness and impartiality as an umpire of the electoral process. It will stay focused on its programmes to deliver elections that will be world class in fairness and credibility, come 2015, despite the daunting challenges. But the Commission must here again restate, as it has always done, that it cannot do it alone. It therefore pleads with other stakeholders, especially politicians, to equally commit to this cause.”

     

  • Lawmaker hails registration of new parties

    Minority Whip of the Federal House of Representative, Hon Samson Osagie has said that the recent registration of new political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has moved Nigeria from the threat of becoming a one-party state.

    Hon Osagie said the registration of the parties has consolidated Nigeria’s multi-party democratic system and signpost a positive development in the country.

    He spoke in a chat with newsmen shortly after he was honoured with an award of excellence by students of the College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi in Edo State.

    Hon Osagie noted that the emergence would afford Nigerians a greater opportunity and possibility “and an alternative political platform in order to ensure that good governance is enthrone through the electoral system.”

    Commenting on the kidnapping of Mike Ozekhome, Hon Osagie said the security challenges have a lot of political undertone.

    He said, “ I grieve that our society is now gradually being turned to a den of criminality. A lot of young people are jobless. The system does not appear to hold anything for them and there appear to be loss of hope. It is a pity that it has to get to this stage. We must redirect the ship of our state in such a manner that economic policies have human face, capable of creating jobs in such that the populace will feel the impact of governance to a very large extent help to solve this act of brigandage.”

     

  • Imoke’s tenure ends 2015, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said yesterday that the tenure of Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke will end in 2015.

    In a statement yesterday by the Cross River State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Mike Igini, the INEC said at a meeting in Abuja on August 15, it resolved to implement the Supreme Court judgment on the tenure of the governor.

    “The Independent National Electoral Commission, at its meeting in Abuja on August 15, 2013, deliberated on the above subject matter and approved that governorship election in Cross River State would be conducted during the 2015 general elections in line with the judgment of the Supreme Court on the tenure of office of the governor of the state,” the statement said.

    Following a series of court cases, which arose out of the 2007 general elections across the country, five governors – Ibrahim Idris (Kogi), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto) and Liyel Imoke (Cross River) – went to court to ask for tenure extension. It was granted by an Abuja Federal High Court and upheld by the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

    The five, therefore, did not participate in the April 2011 general elections.

    But on January 27, last year, the five governors were swept out of office by the Supreme Court, terminating their tenure.

    It declared that there was no reason for them whatsoever to stay beyond May 29, having first taken their oaths of office and allegiance on May 29, 2007.

    A seven-member panel of the apex court, presided over by the then Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Dahiru Musdapher, handed down the verdict in an appeal filed by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Gen. Buba Marwa and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).