Tag: Inec

The Edo State Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (INEC REC)  Anubgum  Onuoha, has denied complicity in the allegation against him by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that he resisted request to gain access to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) inspection before the just-concluded governorship elections in the state.

A statement  by Onuoha  described the PDP allegation as “baseless, misleading and devoid of the truth”.

Onuoha said he never denied any political party, agents or representatives access to the BVAS ahead of the contestation in courts to inspect the BVAS.

He acknowledged that it is the duty of INEC to grant such access anytime the political parties ask for it.

The PDP had accused the INEC in Edo State of refusing to to grant the party and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, access to the BVAS machines and other materials used in the September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election against the order of court.

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The allegation was made by the National Publicity Secretary, PDP, Debo Ologunagba.

“Our Party also alerts the public of how compromised INEC officials used the ploy of waiting for “directives from above” to allegedly allow thugs recruited by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and some unscrupulous police operatives to invade the INEC office in Edo State so as to cause confusion and frustrate the PDP from accessing these sensitive materials.”

“INEC’s refusal to release the materials is in brazen affront of the Order of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Holden at Benin City, dated 29th day of September, 2024 which ordered the Commission to grant our party and candidate “unfettered access to and open up for inspection all electoral documents or any document in the custody of the National Chief Electoral Commissioner or any officer of the Commission/1st Respondent, particularly the Voter Registers, Ballot papers, the BVAS machines, Forms EC25B, EC25B(i) Forms EC40A and Forms EC40C which were utilized for the conduct of the Edo State Governorship election held on the 21st September 2024”.

Replying, however, Onuaha said political parties interested in challenging the results of the election are free to do so, as the move has already been addressed by the law.

He also invited all political parties, including the PDP to inspect the BVAS on Wednesday.

He said: “The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and my office as the Resident Electoral Commission (REC) for Edo State has been drawn to certain unfounded allegations suggesting that I have refused political parties and their representatives access to inspect the Biomodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices and other election materials used during the recent elections.

“I used to categorically state that these allegations are baseless, misleading and completely devoid of truth. INEC under my leadership in Edo State, remains committed to upholding the highest standards of transparency, fairness and integrity in all electoral processes. The inspection of election materials

“The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and my office as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Edo State has been drawn to certain unfounded allegations suggesting that I have refused political parties and their representatives access to inspect the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices and other election materials used during the recent elections.

“I wish to categorically state that these allegations are baseless, misleading, and completely devoid of truth. INEC, under my leadership in Edo State, remains committed to upholding the highest standards of transparency, fairness, and integrity in all electoral processes. The inspection of election materials is a fundamental right of all parties involved in election petitions, and it is a process that we are mandated by law to facilitate.

“At no time have I or any official in my office obstructed or denied any political party or their representatives access to inspect the materials used in the last elections. INEC is fully aware of the legal implications of such actions, and we are dedicated to supporting the lawful processes that enable parties to seek redress in the courts.”

“In furtherance of this commitment, I wish to inform the public that the inspection of the election materials, including the BVAS devices, has been formally scheduled to take place tomorrow, October 9, 2024, at 10:00 AM at the INEC Headquarters in Edo State. All political parties and their representatives are invited to participate in this exercise, as per the legal procedures, to ensure transparency and adherence to the rule of law.

“Any political party or candidate seeking to inspect these materials has been and will continue to be granted access, provided they follow the proper procedures as outlined by the Election Tribunal and relevant legal frameworks.

“It is, therefore, unfortunate that these baseless accusations have been circulated without any evidence or proper engagement with my office.

“I urge all stakeholders and the general public to disregard such misinformation. As a Commission, our loyalty remains to the Nigerian people, the Constitution, and the rule of law.

“INEC, as an institution, stands for transparency, and we are fully committed to ensuring that the electoral process is free, fair, and accountable.

“Any party wishing to engage with my office regarding the inspection of materials is encouraged to do so through the appropriate legal channels, and I assure them of our full cooperation.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied allegations by leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that it has denied them access to inspect election materials used in the September 21 governorship election in Edo state.

Leaders, women, and youths who are members of the PDP reportedly protested in Benin, accusing the commission and its Resident Electoral Commissioner of preventing the party from inspecting the election materials before filing their petition at the tribunal.

The various parties that participated in the election have 21 days from the date election results were announced to file their petition and this is expected to elapse on Sunday.

However, in a state signed by the Edo Resident Electoral Commissioner dated October 8, but released in Abuja on Wednesday, October 9, the commission said it was committed to upholding the highest tenet of democratic practice.

It said the commission was aware of its legal obligation to allow all parties access to inspect election materials.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and my office as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Edo State has been drawn to certain unfounded allegations suggesting that I have refused political parties and their representatives access to inspect the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices and other election materials used during the recent elections.

“I wish to categorically state that these allegations are baseless, misleading, and completely devoid of truth.

“INEC, under my leadership in Edo State, remains committed to upholding the highest standards of transparency, fairness, and integrity in all electoral processes.

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“The inspection of election materials is a fundamental right of all parties involved in election petitions, and it is a process that we are mandated by law to facilitate.

“At no time have I or any official in my office obstructed or denied any political party or their representatives access to inspect the materials used in the last elections.

“INEC is fully aware of the legal implications of such actions, and we are dedicated to supporting the lawful processes that enable parties to seek redress in the courts.

‘In furtherance of this commitment, I wish to inform the public that the inspection of the election materials, including the BVAS devices, has been formally scheduled to take place tomorrow, October 9, 2024, at 10:00 AM at the INEC Headquarters in Edo State.

Ali political parties and their representatives are invited to participate in this exercise, as per the legal procedures, to ensure transparency and adherence to the rule of law.

“Any political party or candidate seeking to inspect these materials has been and will continue to be granted access, provided they follow the proper procedures as outlined by the Election Tribunal and relevant legal frameworks.

“It is, therefore, unfortunate that these baseless accusations have been circulated without any evidence of proper engagement with my office. I urge all stakeholders and the general public to disregard such misinformation.

“As a Commission, our loyalty remains to the Nigerian people, the Constitution, and the rule of law. INEC, as an institution, stands for transparency, and we are fully committed to ensuring that the electoral process is free, fair, and accountable.

“Any party wishing to engage with my office regarding the inspection of materials is encouraged to do so through the appropriate legal channels, and I assure them of our full cooperation”.

A delayed start was observed in most polling units, alongside the near absence of ad-hoc staff for the Jos North local government council elections and other areas, leading to widespread unease across polling units in Jos North and Jos East Local Government Areas of Plateau State.

The Nation correspondent reports that, in addition to the lack of ad-hoc staff, election materials had not arrived at most of the polling units visited by 11:00 am.

These include Ali Kazaure Ward, Jabong Ward, Hwolshe, Dadin Kowa, and Naraguta B Ward.

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Some prospective voters expressed disappointment, stating they arrived at polling units only to find no staff from the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) present to conduct accreditation.

“I was here since 7:30 am so that I can vote for candidates of my choice, but you can see no one to attend to us. I am surprised that such a thing is happening with all the assurance of preparedness by the PLASIEC,” Joseph Emmanuel, has said.

It is further observed that at some electoral wards, PLASIEC officials are sourcing for the replacement of ad-hoc staff.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of deliberately defying a court order that grants the party access to inspect election materials used in the September 21, Edo state governorship election.

The PDP’s governorship candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, secured a ruling from the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on September 29, 2024, allowing the party’s legal team and forensic experts to inspect critical election materials.

The court order, issued by Hon. Justice W.I. Kpochi, granted the PDP access to key documents in INEC’s custody, including voter registers, ballot papers, and results from the BVAS machines used in the election.

The inspection was meant to cover forms EC25B, EC40A, EC40C, and EC8A, which recorded voting and accreditation data from all 4,519 polling units in Edo State.

It was alleged that despite the court’s clear directive, INEC reportedly stalled the process, leaving the PDP with only five days to file its election petition.

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The PDP has expressed outrage at the developments, accusing both INEC and the police of obstructing justice and undermining democracy.

A senior PDP legal representative described the situation as “a blatant attack on democracy,” suggesting that powerful forces may be working behind the scenes to sabotage the legal process.

The party said it is now considering filing contempt charges against INEC officials and pursuing legal action against the Nigerian Police for their role in the incident.

As tensions rise in Edo State, PDP supporters called for urgent intervention to prevent what they see as an attempt to subvert the will of the people.

The party said it remains determined to continue its legal battle to challenge the election results, despite the mounting obstacles.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has urged those questioning the legitimacy of Nigeria’s creation to discard the idea that the country is divisible, especially after a century since its amalgamation.

Speaking against calls for separation, Professor Yakubu highlighted the deep historical connections among Nigerian communities that existed long before the 1914 amalgamation. 

He affirmed that Nigeria’s unity as an indivisible nation is a settled matter.

The INEC chairman made the remarks in Kaduna over the weekend at an International Conference organized by Arewa House, in collaboration with the Department of History, Political Science, and Economics, as well as the Faculty of Law at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, and the Pan-African Strategic and Policy Research Group, in commemoration of Nigeria’s 110th year since amalgamation.

The event themed; “Making and Building of Nigeria: People, Places, Times, and Legacies from 1914 to 2024”, brought together scholars from across the Country to x-ray the past, present and future of Nigeria’s history.

The INEC chairman while noting that Arewa House had consistently marked key historical milestones in the Nigeria’s history, commended the institution for bringing scholars together to reflect on Nigeria’s journey over the last century and a decade.

According to him, “the takeaway for me is the gathering of scholars from different parts of the Country to mark the 110 years of Nigeria’s amalgamation. Arewa House has been noted for marking these kinds of historical milestones, and they have done so again.”

Addressing the ongoing debates about Nigeria’s unity, Professor Yakubu affirmed that the notion of Nigeria as a united and indivisible entity is settled, dismissing calls for division, as he emphasized that, the deep-rooted historical ties that have existed among various Nigerian communities long before the amalgamation.

He said: “I have made peace with the fact that I am Nigerian. If some people think Nigeria is artificial, they should know that nations are always created in different ways and are consolidated over time. Tell me one nation that was put together by consensus? The fact that we are here over a century later is a plus for Nigeria.”

He further emphasized that Nigeria’s relationships and interactions go back hundreds of years, predating British colonization and the amalgamation of what is now called Nigeria. 

According to him, these historical ties have only grown stronger and will continue to do so.

General Ishola Williams (Rtd), represented by Dr. Asma’u Maikudi from Kaduna Polytechnic also spoke at the event, stressing the importance of prioritizing history education in Nigeria.

He urged that “Ourstory” should be made a compulsory subject from Kindergarten to tertiary institutions, as understanding the past is essential for national development. 

“Without a solid understanding of our history, we risk losing our direction as a nation. It is crucial to train more educators as Ourstorians to teach our history comprehensively,” he stated.

Williams further called for the establishment of a Centre for Ourstory of Pre-Colonial Africa (COPreCA) at ABU and for Arewa House to serve as the National Institute for the Ourstory of Nigeria.

He emphasized that these institutions could play a vital role in promoting historical education and awareness, helping to forge a more united and informed citizenry.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of ABU, Prof. Kabir Bala, highlighted the significance of the conference, saying that, it was designed to reflect on the nation’s evolution over the past century.

Director of the Centre for Historical Research and Documentation, Arewa House, Dr. Shuaibu Aliyu in his remarks stated that the event was part of an ongoing series, adding that the center is committed to documenting and archiving all occurrences in the Nation’s history.

“INEC Reports 3,132 Voter Transfers to Ondo State Ahead of November 16 Governorship Election”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said a total of 3,132 voters transferred their registration to Ondo State ahead of the November 16 governorship election.

It said 123 voters transferred their registration out of Ondo State at the end of the Continous Voter Registration exercise.

The electoral body stated that Ondo state has a total of 2,053,061 eligible voters after the harmonization of the newly registered voters with the old registered voters.

Ondo Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, who spoke at a press briefing on the level of preparedness for the governorship election, said the body has been working round the clock to ensure a hitch-free, credible, free, fair, peaceful, transparent, and inclusive election.

Babalola said 58,708 new voters were registered adding that a large percentage of non-sensitive election materials have been deployed to the 18 Local Government Offices.

She said a total of 3,933 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be deployed to polling units in the state and assured that polling units’ results would be transmitted directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

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The Ondo REC said Registration Area Technical Support Staff (RATECH) would be deployed to all Registration Areas (RAs) to provide technical assistance in case of any issue with the functioning of the BVAS.

According to her, “INEC Ondo state has taken custody of sufficient numbers of BVAS for the election, and we are confident in its reliability for the governorship election.

“We are collaborating with civil society organizations, media houses, traditional rulers, religious leaders, faith-based organizations, PWDs, and youth groups for capacity building, effective participation of the electorate, and dissemination of accurate and timely information needed by the voters about the election.

“INEC is fully committed to conducting a credible, transparent, and inclusive election in Ondo State. We call on the good people of Ondo State to come out en masse on Election Day, exercise their franchise peacefully, and contribute to the democratic process.

“We encourage all political parties, candidates, and their supporters to respect the rules of engagement and promote a peaceful atmosphere before, during, and after the election.”