Tag: Inec

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday, January 24, declared its preparedness to conduct free, fair and credible re-run elections scheduled for February 3.

The electoral umpire also assured of maximum security arrangements before, during and after the elections scheduled to be held in 21 polling units of Nnewi North, South, Ekwusigo as well as Orumba North and South federal constituencies.

Addressing reporters in Awka, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Elizabeth Agu assured that all logistics necessary for the election had been put in place.

She said although the exercise was a stand-alone type, the commission did not take anything for a chance as criminal elements could infiltrate the area from neighbouring states to cause the crisis.

Read Also: APGA leadership crisis: Tinubu, AGF urged to prevail on INEC chair, Yakubu

While cautioning against thuggery, vote buying, inducement, intimidation, and any other forms of electoral malpractices, Agu warned thugs and other troublemakers to steer clear of the election venues.

She said: “We’ve made adequate provision and arrangements as if we’re going for a full-blown election so we won’t be taken unawares. We’ll bombard the place with security.

“Meanwhile, no civilian will be molested and harassed during the exercise. Peacefully go to your polling unit and cast your vote. Don’t be careless with words as you may not know who is listening and watching.”

The REC further advised the candidates not to see the election as a do-or-die affair, as they allow the electorate to exercise their franchise for their preferred candidates.

She said: “Campaign will end on the 1st of February and election will be conducted in 21 polling units across the constituencies involved. Do your homework properly through the campaign. If the voters find you worthy they’ll vote for you.”

Chairman of three Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Tuesday, January 23, raised concern about the rising insecurity in parts of the country and its ability to affect the conduct of the February 3, rerun and bye-elections across the country.

The INEC boss who spoke at the first quarterly meeting of the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security challenged the security agencies to make the environment conducive for the conduct of the elections.

While saying that election is a multi-stakeholder responsibility, he said: “As security agencies, it is your responsibility to secure the environment to enable us to deploy personnel and materials, the protection of observers, the media as well as the polling and collation agents representing the political parties and candidates.

“Without a secure and peaceful environment, the conduct of credible elections is imperiled.

“From experience, the conduct of isolated elections such as bye-elections and re-run elections can be very challenging. We must pay attention to the potential for disruptive behaviour by some candidates and their supporters.

“A re-run election conducted in one Polling Unit or a handful of Polling Units can be severely disrupted by acts of thuggery knowing full well that these few locations will determine the outcome of the election.

“Arising from the reports we received from the States, concerns have been raised about the impact of the prevailing insecurity in some States on the conduct of the elections, made worse by incendiary statements by some political actors.”

The INEC chairman stressed that there is no election season in Nigeria any longer as elections are held throughout the year between one general election and another, adding that “this adds to the enormous pressure on both INEC and the security agencies.

“For instance, in addition to the bye-elections and re-run elections holding next week, the Commission has also released the timetable and schedule of activities for the two off-cycle governorship elections in Edo State scheduled for 21st September 2024 and Ondo State holding on 16th November 2024.

“As required by the Electoral Act 2022, party primaries and nomination of candidates shall be done not later than 180 days before the date fixed for the elections. Accordingly, party primaries for Edo State will commence next week and end three weeks later (i.e. 1st- 24th February 2024). For Ondo State, primaries will be held between 6th and 27th April 2024.

“Our collective experience as election managers and security agencies shows that party primaries can sometimes be more acrimonious than general elections. Therefore, as we prepare for the bye-elections and re-run elections, we should equally be prepared for the two major elections later in this year in Edo and Ondo States.”

He disclosed that the commission will be conducting two categories of elections on February 3, 2024, saying “First are the bye-elections arising from the death or resignation of members of the National and State legislative houses affecting two Senatorial Districts, four Federal and three State Assembly Constituencies.

“The second category is the re-run elections by order of Election Petition Appeal Tribunals. In my remarks at the Commission’s extraordinary meeting with leaders of political parties last month, I reported that the elections affect 35 National and State Constituencies.

“Since then, four additional orders of the Court of appeal have been served on the Commission in respect of Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency of Sokoto State, Madara/Chinade State Constituency of Bauchi State as well as Kudan and Kauru/Chawai State Constituencies of Kaduna State.

“This brings the total number of affected constituencies to 39 which translates to 2.6% of the 1,491 Constituencies for which elections were conducted nationwide in the 2023 General Election.

“The nine bye-elections are fresh elections covering the entire constituencies. However, with the exception of three Constituencies (Plateau North Senatorial District and Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency in Plateau State, and Kachia/Kagarko Federal Constituency in Kaduna State), the re-run elections are to be held in a few Polling Units. In some cases, only one Polling Unit is affected in an entire Federal or State Constituency.

“Your task as members of ICCES is to ensure security for the elections. For this reason, the Commission has already provided the Nigeria Police Force, as the lead agency in election security, the full information of the locations where the elections will be held broken down by States, Local Government Areas, Registration Areas/Wards, and Polling Units. We have similarly provided the number of registered voters and Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) collected in each Polling Unit.

“The same information will be shared at this meeting with other members of ICCES. The updated information will also be uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms for public information immediately after this meeting”.

Read Also: INEC trains electoral officers ahead Feb. 3 by-elections

The National Security Adviser and co-chairman of ICCES, Mllam Nuhu Ribadu said that the President has always maintained that the ability of security agencies to protect lives and property adds to the credibility of any election.

Mallam Ribadu who was represented by the director of Internal Security in the Office of the NSA said the forthcoming elections must be held in a secure atmosphere devoid of intimidation and other security threats to uphold the credibility of the process.

He assured that the office of the NSA will continue to collaborate with INEC to ensure that elections are conducted in a secure environment, adding that the protection of election materials and the electorates will be paramount.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun said the security agencies were aware of the challenges of isolated elections and assured Nigerians that they were on top of the situation.

He said the police have conducted a threat analysis in the states where the elections will take place and will deploy adequate personnel to the areas for the elections.

The Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) has begun training of electoral officers that will conduct the February 3 by-elections and court-ordered rerun polls across the country.

 The training, which started yesterday with the “Training of Trainers” as part of the build-up to the elections, was organised by the Electoral Institute.

 The trainers will be involved in the training of election officials and ad hoc workers.

 The trainers comprised TEI trainers, selected staff members from collaborating departments (ICT and Electoral Operations) who came to enlighten the trainees on the innovations recently introduced into the election process, while state training officers (STOs) also joined the ToT via Zoom.

Read Also: By-elections: INEC begins training of electoral officers

 The Electoral Institute’s Director General Sa’ad Umar Idris said the workshop’s objective was to ensure that participants would be able to organise and achieve detailed and effective training in all the affected states, after the training.

 He said at the end of the exercise, participants, who are coordinating trainers, would be expected to demonstrate the ability to effectively train SPOs as well as presiding officers and assistant presiding officer (POs/APOs) on billing and counting procedures.

 They are also to get themselves acquainted to operating the BVAS, have the capacity to upload election result on INEC Result portal using INEC Results Viewing Device (IREV).

 He asked participants to acquaint themselves with innovations/new initiatives to enable them easily pass the knowledge to the Supervisory  Presiding Officers, Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers who would be working closely with some of them on Election Day.

The Independent National Electoral. commission (INEC) has commenced training of electoral officers who will conduct the February 3, 2024 by-elections across the country. 

The training which started on Thursday, January 18, with the Training of Trainers  as part of build up for the elections was organised by the Electoral Institute. 

The Trainers will be involved in the training of Election Officials and adhoc Staff. 

The Trainers comprised of TEI Trainers, selected staff from collaborating departments ( ICT and Electoral Operations) who came to enlighten the Trainees on Innovations recently Introduced  into the election process, while State Training Officers (STOs) also joined the ToT via ZOOM. 

Director General of the Electoral Institute, Sa’ad Umar Idris said the workshop’s objective was to ensure that at the end of the training, participants would be able to organise and achieve detailed and  effective training in all the affected states. 

He said that at the end of the exercise, Participants who are coordinating trainers are expected to demonstrate  the ability to effectively train SPOs as well as Presiding officers and Assistant Presiding officer (POs/APOs) on billing and counting  procedures. 

Read Also: INEC releases list of candidates for February 3 by-elections

They are also to get themselves acquainted to operating  the BVAS, have the capacity to upload election result on INEC Result portal using INEC Results Viewing Device ( IREV) 

He asked participants to acquaint themselves with innovations/ new initiatives  so they can easily pass the knowledge to the Supervisory  Presiding Officers, Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers who would be working closely with some of them on Election day.

 The DG further admonished participants to focus on the training as it was designed to galvanize their skills to further enhance the credibility of the Electoral process in country. 

He highlighted some of the innovation the Institute  has introduced into the Electoral process like the E-learning platforms and INEC Training bot which was used during 2023 General Elections to enhance training and capacity building for  election Personnel. 

He urged the Trainers to highlight  these E- platforms  during the trainings in the respective states.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of candidates contesting the February 3, bye-elections to fill vacant seats in the Senate, House of Representatives, and state Houses of Assembly.

The vacancies were created as a result of the resignation and death of elected members.

Two seats are vacant in the Senate due to resignation by elected Senators to take up the appointment in the Executive arm of government, three seats became vacant in the House of Representatives due to resignation, and one due to death.

In a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, January 17, the national commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun said the list published in the state offices of three Commission and the affected constituencies is for the hype elections only.

He said the rerun elections which are court-ordered elections will feature only candidates and political parties that participated in the 2023 general elections as no new candidates will be allowed to participate in the rerun elections

The statement reads: “Nigerians may recall that recently the Commission released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for bye-elections arising from the death or resignation of Members of the National and State Houses of Assembly.

“These elections will be held on Saturday 3rd February 2024 across nine States of the Federation covering two Senatorial Districts (Ebonyi South and Yobe East); four Federal Constituencies (Shanga/Ngaski/Yauri Federal Constituency of Kebbi State, Surulere I Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Akoko North East/Akoko North-West Federal Constituency of Ondo State and Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency of Taraba State); and three State Constituencies (Guma I State Constituency of Benue State, Chibok State Constituency of Borno State and Chikun State Constituency of Kaduna State).

“As provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities, the personal particulars and final list of candidates have been published today in our State offices and the affected constituencies pursuant to the provision of Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022. The list of candidates is also published on our website and social media platforms.

“We appeal to Nigerians to scrutinize the personal particulars (Form EC9 and academic credentials) of the candidates.

Read Also: INEC names six political parties to contest Ebonyi South senatorial by-election

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

“For clarity, this publication only applies to the forthcoming bye-elections as they are fresh elections for which political parties conducted primaries and nominated their candidates. For the re-run elections to be held on the same day, the list and personal particulars of candidates have been published before the 2023 General Election.

“The re-run elections are conducted pursuant to the orders of the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals. They are not fresh elections open to new/disqualified candidates which obviates the need to publish their personal particulars again.”

Out of the 19 registered political parties in the country, only six will participate in the upcoming Ebonyi South Senatorial by-election scheduled for February 3.

This was disclosed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ebonyi State, Pauline Onyeka Ugochi, during an interactive session with the Media and Civil Society Organizations in the state.

He said: “Out of the 19 registered political parties in Nigeria; only six conducted congresses and primaries as monitored by the Commission for the By-election.”

She listed the six parties as Action Alliance (AA), Action Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Onyeka said that the six political parties conducted their primaries to elect their senatorial candidates between 6th and 9th January 2024 following the timetable for the by-election.

She said: “The Bye-Election is occasioned by the appointment of the Senator representing the senatorial District in the Senate, Senator David Nweze Umahi as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his subsequent resignation from the Senate.

“This is in fulfillment of the provision of the law, which states that a bye-election shall be conducted to fill any vacant elective position occasioned by death, resignation, recall, or appointment into a different office.”

The REC noted that the by-election should be conducted in the five local government areas of Afikpo North, Afikpo South, Ivo, Ohaozara, and Onicha that constitute Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone.

She added that the Senatorial District has a total of 436,254 registered voters.

She said the election will take place in the 57 Registration Areas (RAs)/Wards and 870 Polling Units in the senatorial district.

Onyeka, however, stressed that only those who have their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) would be allowed to vote.

The REC said that about 3,662 ad-hoc staff will be required for the by-election.

She stated: “This comprises Returning Officers, LGA Collation Officers, Supervisory Presiding Officers, RATECHs and Local government Supervisors, Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers.

“The number of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) required for verification and authentication of voters for the Bye-Election has been selected and will be configured for deployment to the five (5) LGAs at the appropriate time.

“Non-sensitive election materials are being selected and arranged LGA by LGA for deployment to the LGAs as well, while the sensitive ones are being expected from Abuja.”

Read Also: Supreme Court judgment vindicates APC as Ebonyi people’s choice – Umahi

On security, Onyeka said INEC is making adequate security arrangements to ensure the security of electoral personnel and materials before, during, and after the by-election.

She commended the media for effective coverage and unbiased reportage of INEC activities in Ebonyi State, and the CSOs for adequate sensitization and enlightenment of the public for active participation in the electoral process.

She noted: “It is my hope and belief that you will replicate such collaboration in the Ebonyi South Senatorial Bye-Election slated for Saturday, 3rd February 2024”

“This is one of the areas we would charge you to carry out adequate sensitization and publicity on the need for prospective voters to come out en mass with their PVCs to vote for candidates of their choice come Saturday 3rd February 2024.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is ready for the conduct of the Feb. 3 rerun election in Cross River.

The state’s INEC Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Anthonia Nwobi, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Calabar.

Nwobi said that the rerun would hold in 34 polling units across Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency, Obanliku and Yala two, State Constituency.

“Only voters with Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) and are registered in the affected polling units are qualified to vote in the election.

Read Also: INEC promises hitch-free rerun election in Enugu

“While the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be deployed for the election, activities will commence by 8.30 a.m. and end by 2.30 p.m.

“However, those on the queue on or before 2.30 p.m., will all be attended to by our officials,” she said.

She called on voters in the affected areas to come out in mass to vote for candidates of their choices at the election.

(NAN)

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that it would conduct hitch-free and credible rerun elections in Enugu State on February 3.

The Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Chukwuemeka Chukwu, disclosed this during a stakeholders meeting in Enugu that preparation for the rerun elections was in full gear and almost concluded.

The Appeal Court late last year ordered a rerun of elections in Udenu/Igbo-eze North Federal Constituency and Enugu South Urban State Constituency in Enugu State.

Chukwu explained that both constituency elections would be conducted in 25 Registration Areas amounting to 173 polling units in the state.

He said that for Enugu South Urban State Constituency (in Enugu South council area); there would be a rerun election in eight polling units having some discrepancies as ordered by the court.

He further said that Udenu/Igbo-eze North Federal Constituency, made up of two council areas – Udenu and Igbo-eze North-elections will be conducted in 55 polling units in Udenu council and 110 polling units in Igbo-eze North council.

Read Also: INEC calls for application from election observers for by-election

“Working under the order of the court, which specified 90 days for conduct of the rerun elections, the commission has fixed Feb. 3, 2024 for the rerun elections.

“We are prepared and have made necessary arrangements for hitch-free and inclusive rerun elections that is the essence of this important stakeholders meeting.

“Presently, we have non-sensitive materials in INEC offices in the various council areas involved in the rerun elections.

“The stakeholders will be carried along to unveil and monitor the sensitive materials as they arrive a few hours toward the Election Day proper through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Enugu branch,” he said.

Chukwu noted that all political parties that took part in the initial election would be participating in the rerun elections, adding that the commission expected maximum cooperation from the political parties for a successful exercise.

“INEC is poised to conduct free, fair, credible and transplant rerun elections.

“Personally, I am also assuring stakeholders of keeping to the timing scheduled of 8a.m. start of the election; and other modalities and arrangement will also be intact.”