Tag: Inec

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it would collaborate with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to safeguard the data of Nigerian citizens

The decision was arrived at during a meeting between officials of NDPC led by the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the INEC chairman and national commissioners.

Speaking at the meeting, INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said the commission has the highest volume of citizens data on the African continent with over 93 million registered voters.

He said: “At the last election, we had Ninety-Three Million (93,000,000) records of citizens and only recently, we conducted the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in just two states (Edo and Ondo) and have added more than Two Hundred Thousand (200,000) additional records to the existing register”.

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Yakubu said the Commission is saddled with the responsibility of conducting credible elections in the country, pointing out that “there cannot be credible elections without a credible register of voters and there cannot be a credible register of voters without data. We are very proud to say that INEC has perhaps the largest database of citizens in Africa.”

He emphasised the critical need for collaboration on data protection, saying, “We also house perhaps the most sensitive national record of citizens with their fingerprints and facial biometrics and we include all citizens from those in the executive branch of government to people in the National Assembly, Security Services in the country, we have our Justices of all categories of courts in the database.

“We have all categories of citizens, male and female, young and old.”

Also speaking, a national commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu said INEC had thoroughly studied the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) and expressed a strong desire to collaborate with the agency to safeguard citizens’ data. This intention prompted the invitation extended to the National Commissioner/ CEO and his team to visit INEC.

On his part, the NDPC boss commended the initiative for the meeting and emphasised the vital importance of the protection of data domiciled in the Commission.

Harping on the need for data protection, he said: “Identity theft, unauthorized access to a database which people can use for malicious things has attracted global attention and all countries of the world are trying to put in place measures to ensure that they protect the data of citizens in their country.”

Dr. Olatunji assured the Commission that the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) will continue to offer support, particularly by providing free training for INEC staff to become Data Protection Officers.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has invited 246 applicants in the last Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Edo and Ondo states to come and validate their biometric details.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Sam Olumekun, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said the applicants comprised 82 in Edo and 164 in Ondo.

He said the commission, at its regular weekly meeting yesterday, considered among other issues, matters arising from the last CVR in the two states held from May 27 to June 9.

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He said following the conclusion of the exercise, INEC displayed the register for one week in the 395 wards across the two states for claims and objections by Nigerians.

He said it was in line with the provision of Section 19 of the Electoral Act 2022.

Olumekun said after the manual process, INEC subjected the register to a further clean-up, using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).

He said at the end of the exercise INEC discovered that the quality of biometric details for the 246 applicants did not meet the threshold for seamless accreditation using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said the accreditation granted election observers to monitor Edo and Ondo governorship elections was not sacrosanct, as the commission can withdraw such accreditation at any time.

Speaking at a training session for election observers, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Election and Party Monitoring Committee of the commission, Sam Olumekun, said any observer group that violated the Code of Conduct for observers as contained in the Guidelines for Election Observation, available on INEC website, would have its accreditation revoked.

He said the commission was concerned about the issue of integrity in election observation, adding: “While there are quite a number of trustworthy, honest, objective, hardworking and credible observer groups in the country, who have contributed to deepening democracy and electoral process in Nigeria over the years, there are still others who have continued to display laxity about election observation and have cared less about integrity of the entire process.”

Olumekun said the training was to enable accredited observer groups be well acquainted with the online processes of uploading field observers, the functionality of BVAS, codes of conduct of election observation, election day processes and procedures, as well as other operations, innovations and preparations of the commission towards the forthcoming elections.

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According to him, the forthcoming Edo and Ondo governorship elections are being conducted as off cycle elections (that is, elections conducted outside the regular electoral cycle of the country), due to the end of tenure of the governors of the two states.

He said: “One hundred and fifty-three applications were received from interested Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) for the two elections. After review and assessment as provided by our regulations and guidelines, 134 groups (124 domestic and 10 international) met the requirements for accreditation.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced on Wednesday, July 17, that the accreditation granted to election observers for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections is not guaranteed and can be revoked at any time.

Speaking at a training session for election observers, Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Election and Party Monitoring Committee, emphasised that any observer group violating the Code of Conduct for observers, as outlined in the Guidelines for Election Observation on the INEC website, will have its accreditation withdrawn.

He also reminded them that the commission does not provide any funding for observers’ accreditation.

Olumekun said the commission was concerned about the issue of integrity in Election observation, saying, “While there are quite a number of trustworthy, honest, objective, hardworking and credible observer groups in the Country and who have contributed greatly to deepening democracy and the electoral process in Nigeria over the years, there are still others who have continued to display laxity about election observation and have cared less about the integrity of the entire process”.

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He said the training is to enable accredited observer groups, to be well acquainted with the online processes of uploading field observers, the functionality of BVAS, codes of conduct of election observation, Election Day processes and procedures as well as other operations, innovations and preparations of the Commission towards the forthcoming elections.

According to him, the forthcoming Edo and Ondo Governorship elections are being conducted as off-cycle elections (that is, elections conducted outside the regular electoral cycle of the country) due to the end of the tenure of the governors of the two States.

He said: “A total of 153 applications were received from interested Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for the two elections. After review and assessment as provided by our Regulations and Guidelines, 134 groups (124 domestic and 10 international) met the requirements for accreditation.

“The classification of the accredited groups showed that 28 are gender-based, 3 represent persons with disability, 8 are faith-based, 10 international and over 100 others working in areas relevant to the functions of the Commission.

“Most of these Organizations possess previous experiences of election observation. A few, however, have been granted observation for the first time to offer them opportunities to observe the processes of election and enable them to contribute their quota in assessing and improving democratic principles.

“As accredited Observer Groups, you will be allowed access to observe all the election processes as outlined in the Commission’s Reviewed Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of elections (available at INEC website: www.inecnigeria.org).

“Your organization is required to obtain the access code (Accreditation Number) and number of field observers to be deployed from the Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) Department to enable you to process the online submission of your field observers on an LGA-by-LGA basis by completing the required Forms online.

“You are to do this by uploading your field observers’ names and passport photographs to enable the Commission to issue them with Identity Cards’.

He asked the observers to submit credible reports within the stipulated timeline, saying the Commission expects that the outcome of their observation will continue to enhance our operations and further consolidate democratic principles in the years ahead.

Acting Director of Election and Party Monitoring (EPM), Hauwa Habib described election observation as an integral part of elections globally, adding that It is in the interest of any democratic set-up that observers are updated with rules and regulations; processes, and procedures.

She said the commission’s process of selection and registration of observers is strictly on the provision that the organisation is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as trustees whose areas include covering the election and the registered 134 of you here have passed the test.

She told them that from the records available to us at the Commission it is noticed that some of you will need to update your records with the CAC.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has complied with the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, asking it to substitute the deputy governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, told The Nation that the commission had implemented the judgment of the court.

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A check on the INEC website indicates that the commission has published the name of Yusuf Kadiri Asamah as the deputy governorship candidate of the party in line with the court judgment, in place of Mrs. Faith Oluyinka Alofohai, who was initially submitted as the deputy governorship candidate.

When the commission published the final list of candidates earlier, the name of Mrs. Alofohai was contained on the list, but the leadership of the party in the state protested, saying they met the requirements for the substitution.

The Federal High Court presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite had in a judgment delivered on June 27, 2024 directed the commission to accept and publish the name of Asamah, saying the LP was within its right when it nominated him as the running mate to its candidate, Olumide Akpata.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has accredited about 134 local and international organisations interested in monitoring the off cycles of governorship elections in Ondo and Edo states later in the year.

A statement by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of the commission, Sam Olumelun said the list is made up of 124 local and 10 international organizations.

The statement reads: “In continuation of preparations for the 2024 Edo and Ondo state governorship elections, the Commission is pleased to provide an update on the accreditation of observers for the elections.

“A total of 153 applications were received from interested organisations. After a review as provided by our regulations and guidelines, 134 groups (124 domestic and 10 international) met the requirements for accreditation.

“The classification of the organisations shows that 28 are gender-based, three representing Persons with Disability, eight are faith-based, 10 are foreign and over 100 others working in areas relevant to the functions of INEC, most of them with previous experience of election observation.

“The next step is for the accredited organisations to upload the personal details and photographs of their field observers to our dedicated portal established for that purpose.

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“To this end, the Commission is organising a one-day training for representatives of observer groups on Wednesday 17th July 2024 at the Commission’s Conference Room in Abuja at 10.00 am. Access codes to the portal and letters of accreditation will be given to representatives of the accredited organisations at the training venue.

“Details of the one-day training as well as the comprehensive list of all the 134 accredited groups have been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for action by the concerned organisations and for public information.”

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for cooperation from stakeholders, ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

INEC National Commissioner in-charge of Planning, Monitoring and Strategy, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, made the call yesterday during an Election Risk Management workshop for stakeholders in Benin.

Gumus said the involvement of stakeholders was important for the success of the exercise.

She said the conduct of election was a complex and enormous process, which could not be done in isolation.

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The INEC chief noted that the workshop was aimed at exposing participants to INEC’s electoral risk management and identifying internal and external risk factors associated with the conduct of the election.

The National Commissioner in charge of outreach and partnership, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, said everyone must be concerned about security during the election and prevention of security breaches by identifying flash points.

Ajayi noted that the commission had confidence in the security agencies to manage election risk and violence, wherever it might occur.

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, escaped being jailed on Thursday, July 10, owing to INEC’s decision to recognise the Edozie Njoku-led National Executive of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Bwari had, in a judgment on November 9, 2023, convicted Yakubu and former National Chairman of APGA, Victor Oye for being in contempt of an earlier order made by the court on May 10, 2023, directing them to among others, recognise the Njoku-led APGA executive.

Justice Mohammed Madugu, after convicting the duo, gave them a grace of 14 days within which to purge themselves of that contempt and adjourn till November 29, 2023, to enable them to purge themselves of the acts of contempt, failing which they would be sentenced to terms of imprisonment.

But, before November 29, 2023, Yakubu and Oye appealed their conviction for contempt and got an order from the Court of Appeal, staying further proceedings in the contempt case.

However, the Court of Appeal in a judgment on June 28, 2024, dismissed the appeal filed by Yakubu and Oye and affirmed their conviction for contempt.

Based on the Court of Appeal judgment, parties were to return to the High Court of the FCT on Thursday for the sentencing of Yakubu and Oye, only to learn that the INEC Chairman has elected to purge himself of the act of contempt by recognizing the Njoku-led executive of APGA as the party’s authentic National EXCO.

Addressing the court on Thursday, the lawyer to INEC, Ahmed Mohammad said: “Upon being served with the certified true copy (CTC) of the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on June 28, 2024, same was forwarded to the Chairman (Yakubu), the commission sat on July 9, 2024 and deliberated on the two judgments.”

He added that the commission “came out with a decision extract to comply with the decisions of the Court of Appeal, which we intend to communicate to parties and the court, that the commission has fully complied with the judgments” and has published the names of members of the Njoku-led executive on its website.

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Responding, the lawyer to the Njoku-led executive, Michael Ajara commended INEC for promptly obeying the Appeal Court’s judgments on the issue.

Ajara said what is left is for INEC to provide documentary evidence of its compliance with the Court of Appeal judgments by providing the extract of the meeting.

He said: “We wait to have it so that the extract will serve as evidence of INEC Chairman’s compliance with the order so that for all intent and purposes, he can be discharged of this conviction burden.”

Lawyer to Oye, Victor Agunzi told the court that his client has taken steps to appeal, at the Supreme Court, the judgments of the Court of Appeal and has filed an application before the appellate court for a stay of execution of the judgments.

Agunzi also said his client filed another motion before the High Court for a stay of further proceedings in the contempt case pending the Supreme Court’s determination of Oye’s appeal.

The court rejected his argument that since the INEC Chairman has purged himself of the act of contempt, by necessary implication, it should be taken that his client has also purged himself of the act of contempt.

Justice Madugu, which rejected Agunzi’s position, noted that the contempt case affected Yakubu and Oye differently because they had different roles to perform in purging themselves of contempt.

The judge adjourned further hearing in the contempt case till October 28 for the hearing of Oye’s fresh motions for a stay of proceedings.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has affirmed readiness of all stakeholders of Warri federal constituency for the delineation of wards and polling units in the area.

The exercise which commences today, Tuesday, July 9, across Warri North, Warri South and Warri Southwest Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Delta state, is expected to end by Saturday, July 27.

INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu represented by Professor Rhoda Gumus, supervising Commissioner for Cross River, Delta and Edo States, made the assertion at a meeting with stakeholders drawn from the three ethnic nationalities, Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo, held at the Government House Annex, Edjeba in Warri South Council area, as part of activities to kickstart the process.

It was tagged “Stakeholders meeting for the commencement of implementation of Supreme Court judgement on fresh delineation of wards and polling units in Warri federal constituency”.

The Delta South Senator, Thomas Joel-Onowakpo, represented by an aide, Dr. Andrew Egunoma; House of Representative member, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi and the Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Guwor Emomotimi Dennis, were among top government functionaries at the meeting.

Representatives of the traditional rulers of the ethnic nationalities, accompanied by other delegates, as well as “focal contacts” from the constituency were also present.

Addressing the gathering, the INEC chairman assured all that the electoral umpire would do the right thing.

He expressed happiness that the commission was about to fulfill its promise to the people, urging them to do their part by supporting the process. 

“I’m happy because the promise we made, we are here to fulfill it. We are going to do it right. The needful would be done right. We think that the ethnic groups would support us by giving us people to work with,” he said.

Speaking to reporters on the outcome of the meeting, the INEC chairman reiterated that the exercise would proceed as scheduled.

The assurance came despite the remarks from the representative of the Olu of Warri, Chief Engr. Wilson Olley, who led the Itsekiri delegation to the meeting, that the success of the exercise could not be guaranteed giving INEC’s refusal to implement an earlier judgement that ruled for the reversion to 10 ward structure, instead of 12 in the conduct of elections in Warri South LGA.

“We have come a long way. INEC is ready and I think that the three ethnic groups are ready. You know, sometimes people can voice out their minds. As at now, we are ready, the way forward is that we are ready to go. Right now we are having a meeting with the focal contacts of the stakeholders,” the INEC chairman reassured.

He commended all parties including the traditional rulers in the area for their peaceful disposition throughout the period leading to the exercise.

In his welcome address, the Delta state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sir Etekamba Umoren, maintained that over 50 workers from the national and state offices of INEC are already on the ground to commence work.

“I am pleased to welcome all participants to today’s Stakeholders meeting to herald the commencement of the implementation of the Supreme Court Judgment on the fresh delineation of Warri Federal Constituency, comprising Warri South, Warri Southwest and Warri North Local Government Areas.

“The choice of Warri South, as the venue of this Stakeholders meeting is not only premised on the fact that , Warri South Local Government Area is the Headquarters of Warri Federal Constituency, but also one of the key agreements by the Focal/Contact Persons representing the three ethnic nationalities of the Ijaws, Itsekiris and Urhobos, at a meeting held in INEC State Office, Asaba, on Friday 19th April 2024 and accepted by the Commission, hence we are here gathered today for this all-important meeting.

“It is only fitting and proper that Stakeholder engagement preceding the mobilization of the technical staff of the Commission ought to be within the precinct of the theatre of operations, in this instance, the three Local Government Areas that makeup Warri Federal Constituency.

“It is also worth noting that the calibre of representation in this meeting from the Commission’s Headquarters, Abuja, signposts the Commission’s readiness to commence field work on the fresh delineation of the Constituency in compliance with the Supreme Court Judgment.

“As we speak, over 50 persons, comprising technical officers and support staff from both National Headquarters and State office, are already on the ground, preparatory to moving into the three Local Government Areas, to commence fieldwork, from Wednesday 10th -27th July 2024.”.

Earlier in their respective speeches, government functionaries from the three ethnic nationalities in the constituency, as well as stakeholders led by representatives of the royal fathers of Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities adopted the delineation exercise, promising to support INEC.

Representing the Ijaw traditional rulers (Pere) of Gbaramatu, Ogbe-Ijoh, Egbema, Isaba and Diebiri kingdoms, was High Chief Oyagha Heavens and representing the Urhobo traditional rulers of Okere-Urhobo Warri and Agbarha-Warri Kingdoms, was High Chief Jackson Egbedi.

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They both gave their nods for the exercise to begin, promising a peaceful and secure environment for INEC officials.

But in his remarks, the Olu of Warri, HRM Ogiame Atuwatse III, through his representative, warned that the exercise would cause more trouble in the area.

“INEC is trying to cause more problem in Warri and its environs. Let’s respect the rule of law, go back to the status quo, eight ratio two wards. We cannot guarantee any process as far as the exercise is concerned,” he stated.

Speaking on the sidelines, the focal contacts for Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities, Hon Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor and Chief Westham Adehor, described the move as a “win-win situation” for the people of Warri federal constituency, positing that with time those who are not in support of the exercise would embrace it.

Concerned Kogi Citizens Forum has urged Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the need to ensure credibility of Edo and Ondo governorship elections through Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

The group, in a statement by its Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Benjamin Ipinyomi (rtd), said: “We insist that INEC strictly follows BVAS provisions in the coming Edo and Ondo governorship polls.

“The Electoral Act 2022 allows for electronic result transmission, a pivotal step in safeguarding the integrity of our elections. It is imperative that this provision is fully enforced to prevent fraud and ensure transparent elections.”

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Isaiah Ijele, convener of the Concerned Kogi Citizens Forum, said: “We advise National Assembly to intervene and urge INEC to be unbiased, suggesting amendments to Sec. 64 (4), (5), and (6) of the 2022 Electoral Act to mandate BVAS for accreditation during elections, with results aligning with the accreditation on IREV.

“INEC must stop spending tax payers’ money in sending SAN’s to court to defend a broad day light robbery as a result of BVAS bypass.”

He added: “We express reservations about the continuous use of professors as returning officers, voicing our lack of confidence in their ability to conduct unbiased elections. We recommend that INEC considers individuals from diverse background, including retired soldiers, carpenters, religious leaders and traditionalists, for these roles.”