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Tag: Inec

  • 2015: INEC bans parties, politicians from campaign

    2015: INEC bans parties, politicians from campaign

    Politicians were warned yesterday to pull the brake on campaigns for 2015.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued the ban, which is coming six months after a letter was written to all political parties in January.

    Politicians seem to have rejected INEC’s warning.

    Besides President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign posters for the 2015 election, there have been others and leaflets for Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Governors Sule Lamido/ Rotimi Amaechi ticket and Governor Babangida Aliyu. There are ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar branded 2015 shoes on the Internet.

    The story is the same for aspirants seeking to contest at the state level.

    Although some of these political figures and aspirants have disowned the posters, INEC believes they were testing the waters in defiance of the Electoral Act.

    In a statement, INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kayode Robert Idowu, said violators of the Electoral Act would henceforth be arrested by security agencies.

    The statement said: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has observed that some politicians and registered political parties have begun unbridled campaign towards the forthcoming general election, thereby heating up the polity.

    “It is observed that campaign posters are being indiscriminately displayed, while electioneering broadcasts are being aired outside the statutory provision for campaigning towards elections into various elective offices.

    “This trend is unhealthy and portends ill for the political process. Indeed, it is a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

    “The Commission hereby reminds all players of the provision of Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended), which states as follows:

    “For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.”

    “Political parties are advised to note that campaigning outside this provision is a violation of the law, and the Commission will not hesitate to apply appropriate sanctions against culprits as provided by relevant sections of the law.

    “Meanwhile, INEC calls on security agents to apprehend violators, whose activities in this regard pose a threat to public order.

    “The Commission enjoins all parties to play strictly by the rules, as part of a collective effort to ensure the success of the 2015 elections.”

    A source in INEC, who spoke in confidence, said: “When the commission was worried about the poster war in January, it wrote a letter to all political parties to call their members to order.

    “But INEC management has observed that these politicians have not relented, although they are clever to admit not being the brain behind such campaigns.

    “Heating up the system with 2015 campaign and posters amounts to lawlessness and unwillingness of these politicians to respect the rules of the game. We will not take kindly to it.”

  • INEC warns politicians, parties to stop campaigns

    The National Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned political
    parties and politicians in the country to stop all acts of electioneering campaign.
    The electoral body noted that the unbridled campaign towards the forthcoming General Election, which is contrary to the provision of Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended),  is alsready heating up the polity.
    It has therefore called on security agents to apprehend violators, whose activities in this regard pose a threat to public order.
    Section 99(1) of the electoral law states that “For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.”
    According to a statement issued by Mr. Kayode Robert Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Political parties are advised to note that campaigning outside this provision is a violation of the law.
    The commission which observed that campaign posters are being indiscriminately displayed, while electioneering broadcasts are being aired outside the statutory provision also warned that it will not hesitate to apply appropriate sanctions against culprits as provided by relevant sections of the law.
    The statement reads:
    “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has observed that some politicians and registered political parties have begun unbridled campaign towards the forthcoming General Election, thereby heating up the polity.
    “It is observed that campaign posters are being indiscriminately displayed, while electioneering broadcasts are being aired outside the statutory provision for campaigning towards elections into various elective offices.
    This trend is unhealthy and portends ill for the political process. Indeed, it is a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
    “The Commission hereby reminds all players of the provision of Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended), which states as follows:
    “For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by       every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.”
    “Political parties are advised to note that campaigning outside this provision is a violation of the law, and the Commission will not hesitate to apply appropriate sanctions against culprits as provided by relevant sections of the law.
    “Meanwhile, INEC calls on security agents to apprehend violators, whose activities in this regard pose a threat to public order.
    ” The Commission enjoins all parties to play strictly by the rules, as part of a collective effort to ensure the success of the 2015 elections.”

  • Court rejects INEC workers on-case submission

    Justice A.A. Aderemi of an Ibadan High Court has rejected a no case submission filed by four workers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against charges of conspiracy and unlawful revision of voters register bought against them by the Oyo State Government.

    The judge fixed June 10 for the defendants to open their defence.

    The defendants are Osunlola Akinyinka, who was the head of Information Communication Technology (ICT) unit of the INEC in Ibadan, Olufemi Samuel, Dauda Oladeji and Salami Adetola.

    They were arraigned on a two count charge after being caught and arrested in a hotel room at Davies Hotel, Bodija, Ibadan based on a tip off by members of the public.

    They were allegedly caught with six DDC machines, a laptop, 11 G-Glo chargers and 11 external discs belonging to INEC which were tagged Exhibits E-E6 and F-F10 by the court.

    In a ruling on the application of the defendants, the trial judge said “I hold that the prosecution has made out a prima facie case requiring at least some explanation from the accused persons. The accused persons application for a no case submission fails and it is hereby dismissed” .

    The prosecution through its counsel, Shuaib Alaran had called four witnesses, three of whom are staff of INEC and the Investigating Police Officer.

    At the end of the prosecution’s case, the defence through its counsel, Rotimi Alli filed a no case submission, stating that the prosecution failed to establish the commission of the crime for which the defendants were charged.

    He added that the prosecution has not through its evidence before the court established any criminal offence by the defendants to warrant them calling evidence in defence of the said charge

    The court, however, after being mindful of the fact that it cannot convict at that stage, held that the defendants has a case to answer.

    “The accused persons are hereby called upon to enter into their defence. This is the ruling of the court in respect of this application,” the judge ruled.

  • 2015: INEC laments sale of votes

    THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on Nigerians to shun the temptation of selling their votes to any politician or political party.

    The commission said many Nigerians engage in the practice of selling their votes because they do not fully understand the benefits of democracy.

    Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, made the call last week at a seminar organised by a non-governmental organisation, Youth Empowerment and Leadership Foundation (YELF).

    Ogunmola spoke on “Social contract principle and modalitities for grassroot NGOs/CSOs working in national, state and local participation in 2015 general elections.”

    He said: “It is sad to observe that some people do not fully understand the benefits of democracy and the need to have competent citizens in positions of authority.

    “Hence they sell their votes for peanuts and lose out completely from the gains of democracy.”

  • ‘INEC must not toy with merger’

    All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) chieftain Senator Annie Okonkwo has enjoined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to toy with the merger of the opposition political parties. He warned that any attempt to deny the All Progressives Congress (APC) of registration would be resisted.

    He told The Nation that the APC was a property of the merging political parties-the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress of Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigerian People Party (ANPP) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). He clarified that the proposed platform is for all Nigeria.

    Okonkwo warned against toying with the collective decision of the people, who now clamour for change through the mega party. “APC belong to us and we will not concede to any cheap blackmail to get our party registered”, he said.

    The politician said that the APGA rally held in Owerri to mark the second year anniversary of the Okorocha Administration was a testimony that the Southeast was fully behind APC.

    He stressed:“You saw the crowd that came to the rally and our resolve to support APC. We are not looking back because this is the only party where the Igbos will actualise their dreams.”

    “Today, all the APC members are happy that Nigerians, who thought that these political parties will not come together, are rattled. APC is finally becoming a reality. What has happened is a full demonstration that APC has come to stay.”

    “The party that controls the Southwest states has held its convention, where they adopted the APC as a new political platform. I think Nigerians should be celebrating this particular milestone that had been achieved by the ACN”

    Okonkwo explained that the conventions of the other merging parties would not be counter-productive, assuring that the proposed APC will save Nigerians from years of exploitation and manipulation.

    He called on his friends, who are members of the other parties that believe in survival of Nigeria, to join hands with the APC, maintaining that the party is the last hope for the people.

    He added: “The country needs a change. We need to get back our country. People need to get employed and the problem of insecurity must be addressed. All these are caused by the ruling party. I believe that this time around, things are going to change. We thank God for the leadership of the APC that had decided to relinquish whatever ambition they have in order to save this country.

    “I don’t need to mention it to anybody and all my friends that are in the People Democratic Party (PDP), who embrace our ideas, to join us to build this country. The leaders of the APC have announced that the party is a home for the common man who are oppressed and desired a bright future.

    “I believe that this time around, our party is embarking on a rescue mission. So, those of my friends who believe in the philosophy of the APC should embrace the party to get country back on its feet.

    “The truth of the matter is that a lot of people are still suffering under PDP and are scared to move away. I think we have provided them the platform and we are giving them the courage to move into APC. At least they will be able to contribute to the survival of this country,” he said.

  • INEC: we spent N122.9b on 2011 elections

    INEC: we spent N122.9b on 2011 elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said it spent N122.9billion on the 2011 general elections, saving the nation about N9billion from the N131.4 billion appropriated for the polls.

    INEC, in a document made available by its Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said there would be no fresh voters’ registration. The Permanent Voters Cards(PVCs) to be issued to Nigerians will last 10 years.

    The commission said after 10 years, the National Identity Card will be used by eligible voters. INEC said it would sell off 78, 000 units of the laptop component of its DDC machines since it would no longer conduct voters registration.

    The document was released against the backdrop of insinuations that about N566.2billion was spent on the elections.

    The document said: “However, contrary to lingering speculations, the actual cost of the 2011 elections, including all costs involved in the voter registration exercise is N66.3 billion for Recurrent Expenditure and N56.6 billion for Capital Expenditure – making a total of N122.9 billion or, if you like, $800.6 million at an exchange rate of N153.5 to $1, which prevailed at the time.

    “This represented a savings of some N9 billion on a total of N131.4 billion that was appropriated, and a far cry from N566.2 billion speculated.”

    The commission also clarified why the Federal Executive Council approved N2.1 billion budget for INEC to produce 33.5 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    The document added: “The approved fund is for the second batch of PVCs being produced for the 73.5 million eligible voters registered by the Commission during the exercise conducted in January-February 2011.

    “The government had last year (2012) approved N2.6 billion for production of the first batch of 40 million cards, while the latest approval is for the second phase of the same project. The PVCs will replace the cold-laminated temporary voter cards that were issued during the voter registration in 2011.

    “Experience has shown that these temporary cards are not only fragile, but also susceptible to abuse by unscrupulous persons, who were in the past reported to have illicitly massed up the cards and put them in the hands of cronies to use in manipulating elections.

    “Procedures put in place by INEC since the 2011 general elections have considerably lessened the susceptibility of these cards to such abuse. But the PVCs the Commission will in due course issue to registered voters are far much more fraud-proof. They are chip-based, with the chip on each card containing all the biometric data of a legitimate holder.

    “During elections, the PVC will be swiped with a card reader at the polling unit to ensure 100 per cent authentication and verification of the voter before he/she is allowed to vote. In effect, only a legitimate holder can present the card at a polling unit to cast his/her vote; while an illegitimate holder can be detected and prevented from using the card.”

    The document explained that the production of the PVCs was cost effective. It said: “As for its economics, the PVC is being produced at a modest cost of about N65 per card, and it will have an average life span of ten years.

    “It is precisely to prevent a fresh outlay of capital after the expiration of this life span that the INEC chairman, at the FEC meeting where approval was given for the second batch, pointed the way to making the National Identity Card the document for voter identification in future elections in Nigeria.

    “The expectation is that by the time the PVC’s life span expires, the national ID system should have come fully on stream and there should be no need for the country to incur fresh costs on separate identity document for voters.”

    “Every expenditure by the present INEC under the leadership of Prof. Attahiru Jega has been necessitated and strictly undertaken as an investment – with an eye on saving the country further costs in the future. That was the reality of the 2011 voter registration exercise.”

    The commission also denied alleged plans to conduct a fresh voters registration.

    INEC said: “For avoidance of doubt, sir, there is no plan for any fresh registration exercise and there is certainly no cause for one. The 2011 voter registration exercise was successful and provides a solid basis for this country to finally discard the expensive cycle of massive registration exercises usually undertaken before General Elections in the past.

    “The data of 73.5 million eligible voters gathered in the 2011 exercise is widely adjudged the most credible in this country’s history, and the Commission has ever since been cleaning up and consolidating the data to eliminate cases of duplication or multiple registration.

    “All that INEC plans now is the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) mandated by Section 10 of Electoral Act 2010, as Amended.

    “This procedure, which is a global best practice, allows for regular update of the National Register of Voters with the data of persons who freshly turned 18 years; while the records of those who are certified as deceased get cleaned out.

    “Incidentally, the electoral laws of this country have always provided for the exercise, but the provision was always observed in the breach until the present Commission came on board and resolved to implement it as prescribed.

    “The CVR will be rolled out by INEC nationally in the course of this year and will remain a permanent feature of the country’s political process.” INEC gave a breakdown of how it compiled the voters register in 2011.

    “INEC had previously explained the logic of the huge cost of the 2011 exercise, and it bears restating here for accuracy of the records of history. This Commission is fiscally responsible, and it is for that reason it recently negotiated the sell-off of 78, 000 units of the laptop component of DDC machines it will not need for the CVR to some state governments.”

    The commission promised that the 2015 poll would be better than 2011.It added: “INEC is assiduously working and will spare no effort to upscale the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system beyond the modest achievements recorded in 2011. “Already, the Commission is pursuing plans and programmes that will make the 2015 elections the best in Nigeria’s political history. We can confidently say that the future of Nigeria’s electoral system can’t be brighter.”

  • 2011 poll gulped N122.9b – INEC

    2011 poll gulped N122.9b – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday said it spent N122.9 billion on the general elections in 2011.

    It also said that it saved the nation about N9 billion from the N131.4 billion appropriated for the poll.

    It, however, claimed that it has no plan to conduct a fresh voters’ registration exercise.

    INEC, which made the clarifications in a document made available by its Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to be issued to Nigerians would last 10 years.

    The commission said after 10 years, the National Identity Card will now be used by eligible voters.

    It said that it had decided to sell-off 78, 000 units of the laptop component of DDC machines since it would no longer conduct voters’ registration.

    The document was released against the backdrop of insinuations that about N566.2 billion was spent on the elections.

    The document said: “However, contrary to lingering speculations, the actual cost of the 2011 elections, including all costs involved in the voters’ registration exercise, was N66.3 billion for Recurrent Expenditure and N56.6 billion for Capital Expenditure – making a total of N122.9 billion or, if you like, $800.6 million at an exchange rate of N153.5 to $1 which prevailed at the time.

    “This represented a savings of some N9 billion on a total of N131.4 billion that was appropriated, and a far cry from N566.2 billion speculated.

    The commission also clarified why the Federal Executive Council approved N2.1 billion budget for INEC to produce 33.5 million Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

    The document added: “The approved fund is for the second batch of PVCs being produced for the 73.5million eligible voters registered by the commission during the exercise conducted in January-February 2011.

    “The government had last year (2012) approved N2.6 billion for production of the first batch of 40 million cards, while the latest approval is for the second phase of the same project.

    “The PVCs will replace the old-laminated Temporary Voter Cards that were issued during the registration exercise in 2011.

    “Experience has shown that these temporary cards are not only fragile, but also susceptible to abuse by unscrupulous persons, who were in the past reported to have illicitly massed up the cards and put them in the hands of cronies to use in manipulating elections.

    “Procedures put in place by INEC since the 2011 General Election had considerably lessened the susceptibility of these cards to such abuse. But the PVCs the commission will in due course issue to registered voters are far much more fraud-proof. They are chip-based, with the chip on each card containing all the biometric data of a legitimate holder.”

     

  • Constituency delimitation: INEC to use 2006 census figures

    Constituency delimitation: INEC to use 2006 census figures

    Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to use the 2006 census figures for the delimitation of constituencies. It was one of the major recommendations at the end of a four-day retreat by the electoral umpire with other critical stakeholders on the review of constituencies in Enugu at the weekend.

    According to a communiqué signed by INEC Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega, one of the major flaws identified with previous efforts to review constituency delimitation was inadequate engagement with critical stakeholders.

    It also noted that the current delimitation structure, which was done 17 years ago, was carried out by the defunct National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) in 1996 under a military regime. The mandate is to conduct a delimitation after 10 years or after a census. The growth in population and demographic shifts warrants a review of constituencies.

    Expectedly, it has been severely criticised for manifesting features that are at variance with international best practices, including mal-apportionments and other inequalities that challenge, in a fundamental manner, the principle of equal representation.

    It was, therefore, agreed that to avoid the criticisms that have continued to dog the current delimitation, it would be “wise and prudent to consider such good practices as administrative and traditional boundaries, cultural affinity, natural frontiers and physical features”.

    Besides, to successfully carry out the exercise, “the commission must continually engage with stakeholders with a view to building confidence and mutual trust and disabusing mindsets likely to be imbibed by key stakeholders, particularly, politicians who have vested interests in the exercise.”

    Furthermore, INEC would have to ensure that the criteria for the exercise are “rational, transparent, impartial and non-partisan” while it “continue to carry its stakeholders along through continuous briefings, enlightenment, consultations, and voter education and public hearings”.

    While acknowledging that the delimitation of constituencies is daunting and is likely to provoke controversy, it was agreed that the commission must give its best shot by refusing to be hostage to its fears or playing the ostrich, non-partisan, self-less and resist political pressure.

    “That the delimitation process should be transparent from the outset to the end and be subject to scrutiny by all stakeholders. INEC should impress on the electorate to appreciate that it conducts elections on the basis of one-man-one vote and the principle of equality and that delimitation is going to give full expression and effect to these principles. And collaborate with agencies such as the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation; NIPOST and National Population Commission to formulate, articulate and aggregate administrative units ahead of the delimitation exercise”.In addition to delimiting constituencies, INEC would also sanitize polling units ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    Apart from five thematic papers that were presented at the retreat, there were goodwill messages by the Senate President Senator David Mark who represented by Senator Alkali Jarere and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal represented by Honourable Simon Arabo.

    Other government agencies that were collaborators with INEC include the National Population Commission (NPC); National Boundary Commission (NBC); National Bureau of Statistics (NBS); Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGF); National Space Research and Development Agency (NASDRA); and Border Community Development Agency.

  • INEC pledges transparency in constituency delimitation

    INEC pledges transparency in constituency delimitation

    The Independent National Electoral Commission has assured Nigerians that the current delimitation of constituencies would be transparent, impartial and non-partisan.

    In a communiqué issued in Enugu on Monday at the end of its national retreat on delimitation, the commission said its members would be non-partisan and selfless and would resist political pressure.

    The communiqué, signed by the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, and some other stakeholders, said it was clear that once the criteria for the delimitation were fair and transparent, it would be difficult to impute politics or ulterior motives into it.

    It said that even though the delimitation exercise was daunting, the commission must give its best shot by refusing adamantly to be hostage to its fears or playing the ostrich.

    “Even though the aspects of the 2006 census have been contested, it remains the most credible source of data to carry out the exercise; the commission should predicate on it,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the commission as saying in the communiqué.

    The communiqué observed that the current delimitation structure was a product of the defunct National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) which initiated the idea in 1996.

    It explained that the structure had been severely criticised for manifesting features which were at variance with international best practices including “mal-apportionments” and other inequalities that challenged the principle of equal representation.

    The communiqué explained that delimitation was meant to engender equality in electoral constituencies and not to create additional seats at the national level.

    The commission pledged to collaborate with other stakeholders to ensure the success of the exercise.

     

  • We haven’t rejected APC merger bid, says INEC

    We haven’t rejected APC merger bid, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said it has not rejected the merger plan of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In a statement in Abuja by its spokesman, Kayode Idowu, the commission said it remains impartial in regulating the nation’s electoral process.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the INEC has been drawn to reports in some newspapers today, Monday, April 29, 2013, that it has rejected a bid by some political parties to merge as the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “This is to affirm that the reports in the Nigerian Tribune and the Daily Champion are utterly false. The commission has not written to stop APC’s merger bid.

    “The commission, in a letter by its Secretary, dated April 23, only declined an application by another association seeking to register as the All Progressives Congress of Nigeria (APCN), for the reason that the acronym proposed by the association is similar to that of another already seeking registration.

    “The commission hereby reassures Nigerians that it will always do the right thing as a dispassionate and impartial regulator of the political process.”