Tag: Inec

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Thursday, May 30, that the flood that affected its Edo state headquarters will not in any way affect the conduct of the September 24 governorship election in the state, saying all facilities damaged by the flood will soon be replaced.

Speaking after inspecting the damaged office in Benin, INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu assured the people of Edo state that despite the setback caused by the flood, INEC would continue with the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the state.

Accompanied by some national commissioners, the INEC chairman said: “We are here basically to see for ourselves what happened to our facilities following the unexpected torrential rainfall and the flooding that occurred. Equally important for us to come and meet with you who are the staff in the Edo office.

“We thank God no life was lost. We thank God no injuries. But we want to assure you that in spite of the extensive damage we have recovered to do the continuous voter registration exercise and we will recover to conduct the governorship election in September.

“We have three months and three weeks to the election today. So whatever we have lost in terms of critical equipment, whatever support facilities we need to replace, whatever office furniture and facilities we need to replace, we will do so,” he said.

The INEC boss said the commission was working round the clock to salvage some of the equipment that can be reclaimed, while also mobilizing resources from neighbouring states to augment the shortfalls for the successful conduct of the election.

Yakubu said he came up with a team that would help to assess the level of loss due to the flood and the way forward, saying, “We are also accompanied by the director of ICT because of what happened to some of the critical facilities for the election.

Read Also: Edo 2024: APC chairman calls for cancellation of scheduled INEC’s CVR

“Whatever we need for the forthcoming Edo governorship election we will make sure that we provide these facilities. Fortunately for us, this is an off-cycle election so we can rely on our resources from the neighboring states for the election.

“It is only in a general election that each state office must be self-sufficient. But here we will call for additional resources from the neighboring states to ensure that there are no issues with the election.

“The present commission has a lot of experience in handling the Edo governorship election. For me personally, this is going to be my third governorship election in Edo. We conducted the 2016 election. We conducted the September 2020 election and by God’s grace, we are approaching the September 2024 election.

In apparent reaction to the call by the APC in the state to cancel the continuous voter registration in the state, he said the CVR which is ongoing will not be affected, saying, “Whatever issues and challenges there, we will listen to the REC and its team and we will continue to respond.

“So, let me reassure Edo voters that the CRV will continue in spite of the slight setback we have experienced and that the preparation for the governorship election is also going to continue”.

Yakubu said the commission was not making any plan to relocate the state office but intended to find permanent solutions to the flood change while expressing the commission’s commitment to staff welfare and a decent working environment for your workers in Edo and all INEC offices across the country.

 In his remarks, the Edo Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Anugbum Onuoha, commended the proactive response of the commission to the May 24 flood and pledged the commitment of the Edo staff to a credible and successful election despite the Friday flood incident.

Onuoha said: “We had an incident that happened on the 24th of this month, and when I reported the matter to you, you took a proactive action that led to the location of the registration centre here to our office in Ikpoba Okaha. That helped us.

“That decision and the position of the commission helped us. Many people were thinking that the registration exercise would not continue, but with the glory of God, we, of course, cannot afford to fail the commission.

“All the assurance we are giving you here is that the mandate and the vision of the commission will be maintained in Edo,” Onuoha said.

Some of the damaged facilities include Bimodal Voter Accreditation Machines (BVAS), vehicles, photocopier and printing machines, office equipment, the office fence, and infrastructure.

Yakubu later visited some of the registration centres in the ongoing CVR in the state. 

He also had a meeting with the state commissioner of Police.

The national commissioners on the assessment tour include Abubakar Alkali, Sam Olumekun, May Agbamuche-Mbu, and Rhoda Gumus.

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The simultaneous distribution of 373,030 uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) for 10 days in Edo State, from May 27, ahead of the September 21, 2024 governorship election, is being threatened by flood.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo state, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, on May 16, assured during a stakeholders’ meeting that the two exercises would be hitch-free.

Onuoha revealed that registered voters in Edo stood at 2,501,081, while collected PVCs were 2,128,288, and 373,030 PVCs had not been collected.

He noted that the two exercises till June 5, 2024, would be between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily, including weekends, in all Edo’s 192 wards and the state headquarters of INEC in Benin, with each registration centre to be manned by two officials from INEC and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The REC also declared that no PVC would be collected by proxy, and pleaded for the support of traditional rulers, religious leaders, chairmen of political parties, and civil society organisations, among others, to ensure success of the exercises.

The assurances given by Onuoha were, however, threatened by downpour from Friday evening till Saturday morning, leading to the collapse of part of the fence of INEC’s state headquarters at Aduwawa, on Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi Expressway, and flooding of the premises, thereby vital documents and equipment.

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, yesterday in an online statement, disclosed that the attention of the security agencies and emergency services had been drawn to the unfortunate incident.

Olumekun said: “Preliminary assessment shows that the downpour damaged a section of the building. Movable and immovable items were submerged, including vehicles parked at the premises, as well as office furniture and equipment.

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“Some of the voter enrollment machines, already configured for the forthcoming CVR, are affected. However, the commission is delivering additional machines from the neighbouring states to make up for the shortfall. We are determined to ensure that the CVR in all the 192 Wards across Edo State will proceed on Monday, 27th May, 2024, as scheduled.

“However, in view of the emergency situation, the state headquarters will not serve as a registration centre as planned. Instead, the exercise will now take place in our Ikpoba-Okha LGA office, located at No. 16, Customs Road, off Benin-Auchi Road, Benin City.”

Sixteen political parties will be participating in the crucial poll, with campaigns ongoing across the 18 LGAs of the Southsouth state.

Meanwhile, Edo State Government has sympathised with residents of the state over the impact of the flood across Benin, the state capital, and its environs, as a result of the downpour of May 24.

The Commissioner for Communication and Orientation in Edo, Chris Nehikhare, yesterday in an online statement, enjoined the public to continue to explore the state’s emergency lines.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Saturday that flood occasioned by heavy rain destroyed part of its state headquarters building in Benin City, the Edo state capital. 

The Commission said as a result of the flood, several moveable and immoveable items, including machines being configured for the continuous voter registration exercise, which begins on Monday were affected. 

National Commissioner and Chairman, 

Information and Voter Education Committee of the Commission, Sam Olumekun, said in a statement that as a result of the incident, the CVR will no longer take place at the commission headquarters in Benin as scheduled. 

He said the exercise earlier scheduled for the state headquarters will now take place at the Ikpoba Okha LGA office located at 16 Customs Road, off Benin/Auchi Road, Benin City.

The statement reads: “Our Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, has reported that our State Headquarters in Benin City was completely flooded following a torrential rainfall yesterday Friday 24th May 2024.

“Preliminary assessment shows that the heavy downpour damaged a section of the building. Movable and immovable items were submerged, including vehicles parked at the premises as well as office furniture and equipment.

Read Also: Security strenghtened at Edo INEC office

“Some of the voter enrollment machines already configured for the forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) are affected. 

“However, the Commission is delivering  additional machines from the neighbouring States to make up for the shortfall. We are determined to ensure that the CVR in all the 192 Wards across Edo State will proceed on Monday 27th November 2024 as scheduled. 

“In view of the emergency situation, the State Headquarters will not serve as a registration centre as planned. Instead, the exercise will now take place in our Ikpoba Okha LGA office located at 16 Customs Road, off Benin/Auchi Road, Benin City.

“Meanwhile, the attention of the  security agencies and emergency services has been drawn to the incident’.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that 17 political parties will participate in the November 11 off-cycle governorship election in Ondo state.

National commissioner and chairman of the information and voter education committee of the commission, Sam Olumekun, said in a statement on Thursday, May 23, that the personal particulars of the governorship candidates and their deputies will be published on Saturday, May 25.

He appealed to members of the public, especially those resident in Ondo state to scrutinise the list, while those who participated in the primaries are free to challenge the outcome of the party primaries at the Federal High Court.

The statement reads: “Following the conclusion of party primaries, seventeen (17) Political Parties have uploaded their candidates’ nomination forms for the Ondo State Governorship Election by the deadline of 6.00 pm on Monday 20th May 2024 when the dedicated portal automatically shut down.

“The personal particulars of the governorship candidates and their running mates will be published on Saturday 25th May 2024, one week from the last date for the submission of nominations as provided in Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2022 and listed as item 4 on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.

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“The commission shall publish the personal particulars by displaying copies of Form EC9 along with all academic credentials and other documents submitted by each candidate at our State Headquarters in Akure and the 18 Local Government offices across the State.

“We appeal to Nigerians to scrutinise the documents. Any aspirant who participated in his/her party primaries with reasonable grounds to believe that the information provided by a candidate or running mate is false can challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court as provided in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022.

“The Ondo State Governorship Election is scheduled for Saturday 16th November 2024.”

• ‘Stop coronation of candidates, conduct proper elections’

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has criticised governors for undermining the independence of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).

He urged the governors to allow the SIECs perform their constitutional responsibility instead of turning them into tools for the coronation of their preferred candidates.

The INEC chairman noted that some SIECs were either not properly constituted or were underfunded and understaffed, leading to their continuous reliance on the INEC for basic logistics, including the provisions of ballot box.

Speaking at a meeting with members of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissioners of Nigeria (FOSIECOM), the INEC chairman advised the SIECs to work hard and conduct credible elections.

He said: “Both INEC and SIECs are creations of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). The conduct of local government elections is fundamental to the proper functioning of our democracy.

“In fact, sections 153 and 197 of the Constitution establish INEC and SIECs as two distinct and independent bodies with powers under the Third Schedule Part I (F)(14-15) and Part II (B)[3-4] to organise, undertake and supervise elections.

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“While SIECs are responsible for the conduct of local government elections for chairmen and councillors, INEC conducts all other executive and legislative polls from presidential and governorship to national and state legislative elections.

“Our mandates are, therefore, clearly defined by the Constitution. However, INEC is also empowered by Section 98 of the Electoral Act 2022 to conduct local government or Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“Realising our shared responsibility for the conduct of democratic elections in Nigeria and the challenges faced by SIECs in carrying out their mandates, INEC encouraged the establishment of FOSIECOM in a genuine effort to foster partnership for credible elections in Nigeria.

“Over the years, attempts were made to encourage the SIECs to maintain their independence. We signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) under which assistance in the form of training, provision of some facilities, institutionalisation of the culture of planning through the development of a strategic plan, holding regular meetings with stakeholders, encouraging the SIECs to participate in our retreats and accrediting their officials to observe our elections is rendered.

“We also established the joint INEC/FOSIECOM Consultative Committee, headed by a National Commissioner. All these initiatives were proposed and undertaken in the firm belief that by working together, the 36 SIECs will leverage the experience of INEC for a progressive improvement in the conduct of local government elections in Nigeria.

“Unfortunately, the conduct of local government elections in virtually all the states of the federation has become mere coronation of candidates of the ruling parties. It is time to stop the coronation and conduct proper elections.”

“State governors should allow the SIECs to have greater capacity for independent action. Many of the SIECs have no functional offices in the local government areas in their states and cannot recruit their own permanent workers.

“In some states, the SIECs are either not properly constituted, have no security of tenure or their critical functions have been taken over by government officials.

“Some SIECs are only constituted on the eve of elections and dissolved thereafter. They are also severely under-resourced to the extent that some of them rely on INEC even for basic facilities such as ballot boxes and voting cubicles.”

Yakubu stressed that many Nigerians have mistaken the SIECs for INEC.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated on Wednesday, May 22, that state governors should ensure that State Independent Electoral Commissions can fulfill their designated roles, rather than using them as platforms for endorsing specific candidates.

Yakubu also said that some state independent elections are either not properly constituted or are underfunded and understaffed, leading to their continuous reliance on INEC for some basic logistics, including provisions of the ballot box.

Speaking at a meeting with members of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissioners of Nigeria, the INEC chairman asked the state Electoral bodies to stop the coronation of candidates and conduct credible elections.

Yakubu said: “Both INEC and SIECs are creations of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). The conduct of Local Government elections is fundamental to the proper functioning of our democracy.

“In fact, Sections 153 and 197 of the Constitution establish INEC and SIECs as two distinct and independent bodies with powers under the Third Schedule Part I (F)(14-15) and Part II (B)[3-4] to organise, undertake and supervise elections.

“While SIECs are responsible for the conduct of Local Government elections for Chairmen and Councillors, INEC conducts all other executive and legislative polls from presidential and governorship to national and State legislative elections.

“Our mandates are therefore clearly defined by the Constitution. However, INEC is also empowered by Section 98 of the Electoral Act 2022 to conduct Local Government or Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“Realising our shared responsibility for the conduct of democratic elections in Nigeria and the challenges faced by SIECs in carrying out their mandates, INEC encouraged the establishment of FOSIECOM in a genuine effort to foster partnership for credible elections in Nigeria.

“Over the years, attempts were made to encourage the SIECs to maintain their independence. We signed an MoU under which assistance in the form of training, provision of some facilities, institutionalisation of the culture of planning through the development of a strategic plan, holding regular meetings with stakeholders, encouraging the SIECs to participate in our retreats, and accrediting their officials to observe our elections.

“We also established the joint INEC/FOSIECOM consultative Committee headed by a National Commissioner. All these initiatives were proposed and undertaken in the firm belief that by working together, the 36 SIECs will leverage the experience of INEC for a progressive improvement in the conduct of Local Government elections in Nigeria.

“Unfortunately, the conduct of local government elections in virtually all the States of the Federation has become mere coronation of candidates of the ruling parties. It is time to stop the coronation and conduct proper elections.

“State Governors should allow the SIECs to have greater capacity for independent action. Many of the SIECs have no functional offices in the Local Government Areas in their States and cannot recruit their own permanent staff.

“In some States, the SIECs are either not properly constituted, have no security of tenure or their critical functions have been taken over by government officials.

“Some SIECs are only constituted on the eve of elections and dissolved thereafter. They are also severely under-resourced to the extent that some of them rely on INEC even for basic facilities such as ballot boxes and voting cubicles”.

He said further that many Nigerians have mistaken state electoral commissions for INEC, saying “even some of the stakeholders, including candidates for Local Government elections, call them State INEC. This situation has forced us to reconsider some aspects of our relationship with the SIECs.

“Our support is now largely restricted to the voters’ register as provided by the constitution. INEC cannot shoulder its own extensive responsibilities and at the same time extend almost limitless support to other independent electoral commissions for elections outside our mandate across the country from our lean Federal budget.”

He maintained that the commission is not unaware of the ongoing discussions about the future of elections for the 774 local government chairmen as well as councillors representing the 8,809 electoral wards in Nigeria.

He said: “Under the extant law, the 36 SIECs are responsible for the election of 768 Local Government Chairmen and 8,747 councillors, making a total of 9,515 constituencies. INEC conducts elections for the 68 constituencies in the FCT made up of 6 Area Council Chairmen and 62 councillors, including bye-elections as they arise.

“It has been our earnest hope that the elections conducted by INEC in the FCT will provide a model for Local Government elections across the country. In spite of the challenges encountered, there has been a progressive improvement in the conduct of the Area Council Elections in the FCT.

“There is security of tenure for chairmen and councillors which is now four years. There are no caretaker committees as elections are held regularly. There is plurality in electoral outcomes as no single party has ever won elections in all the constituencies in the Area Councils.

“Happily, the Electoral Act 2022 that now governs the conduct of national and Area Council elections also applies to Local Government elections nationwide. This has been made possible by the efforts of INEC arising from earlier discussions with FOSIECOM on the imperative of a model law to govern the conduct of Local Government elections across the country.”

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He appealed to the forum to take the bull by the horns, adding that while there are legal and financial constraints to your operations, your independence does not necessarily draw from statutory or financial provisions alone.

He said: “The courage with which you discharge your obligation to protect the integrity and credibility of elections is the most important determinant of success. There are no shortcuts to the discharge of this enormous responsibility.”

He said the commission will continue to work with them to push the boundaries of electoral reform, saying, “Working together, we should continue to explore all avenues under the law to improve the conduct of local government elections in Nigeria.

However, you should always bear in mind that INEC and other stakeholders can only help you, but there must be a determination on your part to do the needful.”

A pressure group in the Labour Party (LP) in Edo State, the Catalyst Committee, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary not to succumb to political pressure, but show conformity to the rule of law and the Electoral Act, 2022, as amended.

The group made the call against the

backdrop of the suit filed at the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja and Benin by a governorship aspirant on LP’s platform in Edo, Kenneth Imansuangbon, against the party’s standard bearer, Olumide Akpata.

Catalyst committee, yesterday in a statement by its Coordinator, Dr. Abel Oarhe, noted that the call became imperative, as some money bags were out to ensure that justice was not served in the suit, thereby subverting the will of the people.

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It pointed out that it was only when justice was served on the matter that democracy could be deepened in Nigeria.

The group warned that any attempt by the electoral umpire to shift the goal post in the middle of the game would create disruption in the nation’s political system, thereby eroding completely the confidence in INEC, in the eyes of Nigerians.

It said: “Obedience to the rule of law is part of the requirements to contest an election. Inability to obey the law is a clear ground for disqualification.

“So, nobody should pamper any candidate, who has deliberately violated the provisions of the Constitions, Electoral Act and INEC’s guidelines.

“Whoever disobeys the law, the consequences are there, and should be applied. That is why Barr. Kenneth Imansuangbon approached the courts, to rescue LP in Edo State.  

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday urged security agents to prevent violent attacks and negative mobilisation by political parties, candidates, and their supporters during their campaigns for the Edo and Ondo states’ off-cycle governorship elections.

Speaking at the second regular quarterly consultative meeting of the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security, Yakubu condemned the use of the power of incumbency to prevent opposition parties and candidate from accessing radio and television stations for campaign.

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He said: “The use of the power of incumbency to deny opposition parties and candidates access to public facilities, such as radio and television stations, public buildings for campaigns and rallies or even outdoor advertising through the imposition of excessive fees and levies, often results in the breach of the peace.

“These actions, including the mutual destruction of campaign materials and facilities, violate the provisions of sections 91 to 97 of the Electoral Act 2022.”

Yakubu said the security agencies should ensure the enforcement of the law.

Praising the security agencies for ensuring peaceful elections in the country, the INEC chairman urged them to work closely with the commission to ensure the success of the governorship election in Edo and Ondo states.

He told the security agencies that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections will start on May 27 in all the wards across the two states.

Yakubu said: “We need security protection for the registrants, registration personnel, equipment, observers, and journalists who will cover the exercise.”

“The detailed locations of the registration centres have been compiled in a detailed 28-page document included in your folders for this meeting to guide your operational plans to secure the process.”

The INEC chairman said the commission had published the final list of candidates for Edo State, following the conclusion of the primary elections and the end of the deadline for withdrawal and substitution of candidates’ names, as provided for in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.

He added that public campaigns by political parties,  which kicked off on April 24, will end at midnight of September 19, 24 hours before the date fixed for the election.