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  • INEC calls for application from election observers for by-election

    INEC calls for application from election observers for by-election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has invited civil society organisations (CSOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) interested in observing the February rerun and by-election to apply via an online portal on or before January 17.

    INEC said this in a notice issued by its acting Director of Electoral Party Monitoring (EPM), Mrs. Hauwa Habib, yesterday in Abuja.

    Mrs. Habib advised the organisations to visit (http://observergroups.inecnigeria.org) and complete the application form.

    This, according to her, is without prejudice to any previous correspondence with the commission.

    She said the completion of the prescribed application form (EC14A(l)) remained the only accepted means of application.

    “Observer groups should particularly note that all other information, including legal status (registration with CAC), evidence of registration with the Civil Society Desk at INEC headquarters, evidence of registration previous election observation with INEC (if any), acknowledgment of submission of reports of observation (if any), should accompany the application.

    “Any falsification of documents in the submissions will lead to automatic disqualification and possible prosecution.

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    “The deadline for submission of application is January 17, 2024.

    “The list of successful observer groups approved for accreditation will subsequently be published on the commission’s website and EPM observers’ WhatsApp platform,” Mrs. Habib said.

    The acting EPM director said the vacancies for the by-election/rerun polls occurred across two senatorial districts, four Federal constituencies, and three state constituencies in nine states of the federation.

    She added that INEC was conducting the by-election/rerun polls stemming from last year’s general election, as directed by various election petition appeal tribunals.

    “Currently, 35 constituencies are affected by these court-ordered elections. While three cover entire constituencies, others involve only a few polling units.

    “Both categories of elections are scheduled to take place simultaneously in all affected constituencies on Saturday, February 3,” Mrs. Habib added.

  • We are prepared for rerun in Enugu State on Feb. 3 – INEC

    We are prepared for rerun in Enugu State on Feb. 3 – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is prepared to conduct the rerun elections some parts of Enugu State on February 3 as ordered by Appeal Court.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, disclosed this on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Enugu, organised ahead of the polls.

    The News Agency of Nigeria of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Appeal Court had ordered rerun in Udenu/Igbo-eze North Federal Constituency and Enugu South Urban State Constituency, respectively.

    Chukwu said that both elections would be conducted in 25 Registration Areas, totalling 173 polling units.

    He said that for Enugu South Urban State Constituency, there would be a rerun in eight polling units that had some discrepancies.

    According to him, for Udenu/Igbo-eze North Federal Constituency, made up of two LGAs, namely Udenu and Igbo-eze North, elections will be held in 55 polling units in Udenu LGA and 110 polling units in Igbo-eze North LGA.

    He said: “Working under the order of the court, which specified 90 days for conduct of the rerun elections, the commission has fixed February 3 for the exercise.

    “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 LGAs involved in the exercise.

    “The stakeholders will be carried along to unveil and monitor the sensitive materials as they arrive a few hours to the election day through the Central Bank of Nigeria, Enugu branch.”

    Read Also: INEC ready for Kano bye-elections – REC

    The REC said that all the political parties that took part in the initial election would be participating in the rerun elections.

    He said that the commission expected maximum cooperation from the political parties for a successful exercise.

    Chukwu said: “INEC is poised to conduct free, fair, credible and transparent rerun elections.

    “Personally, I am also assuring stakeholders of keeping to the commencement time of 8 a.m.

    The stakeholders, who spoke at the meeting, pledged to assist and cooperate with INEC officials for peaceful and rancour-free rerun elections.

    (NAN)

  • INEC ready for Kano bye-elections – REC

    INEC ready for Kano bye-elections – REC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kano State, says it has completed all arrangements for  conduct of all  bye-elections in the state.

    The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kano state, Mr Abdu Zango  said this while addressing stakeholders at its state  headquarters in Kano on Tuesday.

    He said the bye elections, slated for Feb.3, would hold  in three state  constituencies,   Kunchi/Tsanyawa, Kura/Garun Malam and Rimin Gado/Tofa in Six local government areas of the state.

    “We are fully ready for the bye-elections with our trained electoral personnel ready to conduct transparent and credible elections for the conduct of elections in six local government areas.

    “We are conducting elections in 66 polling units across the six local government areas.

    “Any person without a permanent voter’s card will not participate in the bye- election,” he said.

    He said already, the commission had deployed sensitive and non-sensitive materials to all the affected local government areas.

    Zango explained that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) would be used during the re-run elections aimed at ensuring free, fair and credible elections.

    He expressed confidence that the bye-elections would be successful.

    “We have prepared and equipped our personnel with basic electoral knowledge for the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections come Feb. 3,” he said.

    The REC also commended the effort of the Police for providing required security before and during the bye-elections.

    Alhaji Hussaini Gumel, Commissioner of Police in the state, said the command had already put security measures in place  to ensure smooth implementation of all electoral processes in the affected local government areas.

    Read Also: Be bold in implementing electoral laws – SDP tells INEC

    Gumel, represented by CSP Hamma Abdullahi, said the police would be visible in all the polling units to enable eligible residents in the six local government areas to participate in the exercise without threat to lives and property.

    He warned leaders of political parties that would be participating in the election to impress on their supporters to shun all kinds of political violence, ballot snatching and thuggery during the exercise.

    ” Police will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute any person or group of persons found disrupting the peaceful political atmosphere the state is known for,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Sept. 30,  ordered the rerun for the state assembly in the six local government areas.

    (NAN)

  • Be bold in implementing electoral laws – SDP tells INEC

    Be bold in implementing electoral laws – SDP tells INEC

     The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be bold in implementing provisions of the Electoral Laws and the Constitution in the conduct of future election.
    The SDP National Chairman, Malam Shehu Gabam said this when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Gabam said that Nigerians expected INEC in 2024 to make adjustments in areas where there were mistakes in the past and take bold steps to correct them in the future.

    He added that INEC must be bold in prosecuting electoral offenders and cancel election where there were evidences of compromise in the process.

    “In last election in Kogi, INEC admitted that the election result sheet, which is the most sensitive election materials, was leaked and pre-filled before the election, but it didn’t act appropriately.

    “In spite of promising that it will cancel the election in those three local government areas, it didn’t do that, but we are fighting it. We have instituted a petition to challenge it.

    “INEC needs to be bold because they have the power to cancel election where there is evidence of compromise. The law is very clear,’’ he said.

    Gabam advised INEC chairman to be bold in rectifying some of the past mistakes of the commission.
    “The commission said that it was investigating some electoral offenders, INEC has to demonstrate to Nigerians that it is very serious in prosecuting them, otherwise voters apathy in this country will be unprecedented,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Courts bars PDP, INEC from stopping 27 Rivers lawmakers

    On the call for further review of electoral laws, Gabam said what Nigeria needed was reorientation of Nigerians, if it must get its electoral process right.

    “I think reorientation is key. Generally, there is the need for reorientation, for people to understand their rights and privileges.

    “If people are reoriented properly for them to understand that it is their constitutional right to cast their votes and their votes to be counted, they will resist any attempt to subvert their votes.

    “Once people started resisting an attempt to subvert their votes, there’s nothing anybody, including the executive can do to subvert their will,” he said.

    He added that Nigerians must also change their attitute of boycotting election, saying boycotting election was not a solution in democratic system of government.

    “People must know that if you do not vote, you are doing a great disservice to the system. By avoiding the system, you are doing more harm to the system.

    “What is expected of you is to cast your votes, stand there and make sure your votes count,’’ Gabam said.

    He advised the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to go back to its constitutional role of sensiting Nigerians on need to vote and protect their votes during election.

    He said that even during military regimes, NOA was all over the country mobilising Nigerians to go and vote.

    (NAN)

  • Courts bars PDP, INEC from stopping 27 Rivers lawmakers

    Courts bars PDP, INEC from stopping 27 Rivers lawmakers

    • PDP insists defectors must vacate seats

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has extended the order that restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Rivers State House of Assembly from declaring 27 seats vacant.

    The court had barred the commission from conducting an election to fill the seats of the 27 members, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Justice Donatus Okorowo extended the order yesterday based on an application by the lawyer to the lawmakers, Steve Adehi (SAN).

    Ken Njemanze (SAN), who represented the House of Assembly, did not oppose it.

    The judge rejected the objection raised by the lawyer to the PDP, Adeyemi Ajibade (SAN), and upheld the argument by Adehi.

    He agreed that the court, under Order 26, Rule 10 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, had the discretionary power to grant such extension in the interest of justice.

    Justice Okorowo held: “Application for the extension of the lifespan of the ex-parte order pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice is hereby granted.”

    He adjourned until January 24 for a hearing of pending applications.

    The judge had granted the earlier orders while ruling on December 15 on an ex-parte motion filed by the 27 lawmakers along with a substantive suit numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023.

    They are challenging the propriety of the threat by five members of the Rivers Assembly to declare their seats vacant and invite INEC to conduct a fresh election.

    INEC, the PDP, Rivers State House of Assembly, the Clerk of the House, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of State Services (DSS) are the defendants.

    Adehi told the court that he had a motion on notice which is for hearing.

    He noted that given the withdrawal of Lukman Fagbemi (SAN) (for the House of Assembly) and a new lawyer replacing him, it may be impossible for the court to proceed.

    He sought an adjournment to also allow him to reply to what the PDP and other defendants filed and served on him.

    Adehi said: “In any case, I ask that the matter be further adjourned to enable us to serve the third and fourth defendants (the Assembly and its Clerk) and to also enable us to reply on points of law to the process served on us by the counsel to the second defendant.”

    Njemanze, who replaced Fagbemi, said had the instruction of the third defendant to handle the case on its behalf and that he had filed a memorandum of appearance.

    He said he was not yet served with what the PDP filed to enable him, adding that he also planned to respond to what the plaintiffs filed.

    Njemanze said: “Without prejudice to the political solution brokered by Mr President, I need to get my client’s reaction to this and then report back to this honourable court.“In the circumstance, we pray for an adjournment to enable me to file my processes.”

    Read Also: Court extends order restraining INEC, Rivers Assembly from declaring 27 pro-Wike lawmakers’ seats vacant

    Ajibade (for the PDP) who is also the party’s National Legal Adviser, said he filed an application challenging the competence of the suit and the court’s jurisdiction to hear it.

    The PDP lawyer noted that the plaintiffs have responded to the preliminary objection he filed, but were yet to respond to his second application – a motion seeking the court’s order to discharge the interim order.

    He agreed with the application for adjournment by Adehi and Njemanze in view of Fagbemi’s withdrawal from the suit.

    Ajibade said the adjournment would also enable him to sort out their processes which had earlier been served on Fagbemi.

    Lawyer to the fourth defendant (clerk of the assembly) Ferdinand Orbih (SAN) said his client was not yet served with all that had been filed so far in the case.

    Orbih said he was not opposed to an adjournment, but would consult with his client to know further steps to take.

    PDP insists seats remain vacant

    Also yesterday, the PDP insisted that the 26 Rivers lawmakers who dumped the party for the APC had lost their seats.

    Ajibade told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that though President Bola Tinubu had intervened in the dispute between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, the party’s position had not changed.

    He said: “PDP as a party is standing by the constitution.

    “It is not about issues of an agreement because we all swore to uphold the constitution.

    “The governor himself swore to uphold the constitution, likewise the president.

    “I am not against the president calling for the resolution of the matter. He is the chief security officer of this country and he has every right to intervene in the issue.

    “But, we, as a political party, the PDP, own those seats and are interested in those seats.

    “Whatever the governor is doing in this matter, no resolution has been brought to Wadata Plaza.

    “As a political party, we cannot leave the seats and the votes willingly given to the party by the people of Rivers.”

  • INEC orders four directors to proceed on retirement leave

    INEC orders four directors to proceed on retirement leave

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked four of its directors to proceed on retirement in accordance with a circular on the eight-year tenure policy for directors in the public service. 

    The commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman for Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, announced this in a statement yesterday in Abuja. 

    Although he did not give the names of the affected directors, the INEC spokesman said while two of them served as heads of department at the commission headquarters in Abuja, the other two served as Administrative Secretaries in the states. 

    Olumekun said those in the medical cadre were exempted from the directive. 

    The statement reads: “Following the Federal Government circular HSCF/SPSO/268/T3/2/37 issued on July 27, 2023, the commission has approved the implementation of a policy mandating all directors with eight years or more of service to retire from the public sector.

    Read Also: Alleged vote-buying: Adebutu reports to police in Ogun

    “As per this directive, four directors of the commission will proceed on terminal leave. Two of them serve as Heads of Departments at the National Headquarters, while the other two are deployed as Administrative Secretaries in our State offices. 

    “However, it’s important to note that Clinical Officers in the medical cadre are exempt from this policy, as clarified in circular MH. 7205/T/31, dated September 7, 2023.

    “The commission wishes the affected directors the best as they retire from service.”

  • INEC orders four directors to proceed on retirement

    INEC orders four directors to proceed on retirement

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked four of its Directors to proceed on with retirement in accordance with the circular on the eight-year tenure policy for directors in the public service.

    The National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee of the Commission, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, December 27.

    Although he did not give the names of the affected directors, he said while two of them served as Heads of department at the Commission headquarters in Abuja, the other two served as Administrative Secretaries in the states.

    He however said that those in the medical cadre were exempted from the directive.

    Read Also: INEC to conduct rerun, bye-electionsinto NASS, state assemblies Feb 3

    The statement reads: “Following the Federal Government Circular HSCF/SPSO/268/T3/2/37 issued on 27th July 2023, the Commission has approved the implementation of a policy mandating all Directors with eight years or more of service to retire from the public sector.

    “As per this directive, four Directors of the Commission will proceed on terminal leave. Two of them serve as Heads of Departments at the National Headquarters, while the other two are deployed as Administrative Secretaries in our State offices.

    “However, it’s important to note that Clinical Officers in the medical cadre are exempt from this policy, as clarified in Circular MH. 7205/T/31 dated 7th September 2023. The Commission wishes the affected Directors the best as they retire from service.”

  • INEC to conduct rerun, bye-electionsinto NASS, state assemblies Feb 3

    INEC to conduct rerun, bye-electionsinto NASS, state assemblies Feb 3

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced Saturday, February 3, 2024, as the date for the conduct of bye-elections and rerun elections into existing vacancies in both the state and National Assembly.

    While the bye-elections will be conducted in two senatorial districts, four federal constituencies, and three state constituencies, the rerun election is expected to take place in 35 constituencies across the country.

     National Commissioner  and Chairman of the Information Voter Education Committee of the Commission, Sam Olumekun, said in a statement that details of the timetable have been uploaded and are currently available on the commission’s website.

    The statement reads: “The Commission has approved the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for conducting bye-elections resulting from the resignation or demise of Members of the National and State Houses of Assembly.

     “These vacancies were declared by the Presiding Officers i.e. the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Speakers of State Houses of Assembly.

     “The vacancies occurred across two Senatorial Districts, four Federal Constituencies, and three State Constituencies spanning nine States of the Federation.

    Read Also: INEC to conduct rerun and bye-elections into NASS, state Assemblies Feb 3

    “Furthermore, the Commission is conducting re-run elections stemming from the 2023 General Election, as directed by various Election Petition Appeal Tribunals.

     “Currently, 35 Constituencies are affected by these Court-ordered elections. While three cover entire constituencies, others involve only a few Polling Units.

     “Both categories of elections are scheduled to take place simultaneously in all affected constituencies on Saturday 3rd February 2024. 

    “The Timetable for the elections, along with detailed delimitation data (i.e. registration areas, polling unit names, the number of registered voters and PVCs collected), has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms as a guide to political parties and candidates, and for public information.

    “We urge parties and candidates to strictly adhere to the specified timelines for the seamless conduct of these elections.”

    According to the timetable seen by The Nation, political parties are expected to conduct party primaries and produce candidates for the bye-elections between January 5 and 9.

    The parties are expected to submit the list of their candidates to the commission between January 10 and 13, while the final list of candidates will be published on January 117, with campaigns starting January 18.

  • INEC to conduct rerun and bye-elections into NASS, state Assemblies Feb 3

    INEC to conduct rerun and bye-elections into NASS, state Assemblies Feb 3

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced Saturday, February 3, 2024, as the date for the conduct of bye-elections and rerun elections into existing vacancies in Bo h the state and National Assembly. 

    While the bye-elections will be conducted in two senatorial districts, four federal constituencies, and three state constituencies, the rerun election is expected to take place in 35 constituencies across the country. 

    National Commissioner &Chairman of the Information Voter Education Committee of the Commission, Sam Olumekun, said in a statement that details of the Timetable have been uploaded and are currently available on the commission’s website. 

    The statement reads: “The Commission has approved the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for conducting bye-elections resulting from the resignation or demise of Members of the National and State Houses of Assembly. 

    “These vacancies were declared by the Presiding Officers i.e. the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Speakers of State Houses of Assembly.

    “The vacancies occurred across two Senatorial Districts, four Federal Constituencies, and three State Constituencies spanning nine States of the Federation.

    “Furthermore, the Commission is conducting re-run elections stemming from the 2023 General Election, as directed by various Election Petition Appeal Tribunals. 

    Read Also: INEC fixes by-elections into Senate, House, others for  Feb

    “Currently, 35 Constituencies are affected by these Court-ordered elections. While three cover entire constituencies, others involve only a few Polling Units.

    “Both categories of elections are scheduled to take place simultaneously in all affected constituencies on Saturday 3rd February 2024.

    “The Timetable for the elections, along with detailed delimitation data (i.e. registration areas, polling unit names, the number of registered voters and PVCs collected), has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms as a guide to political parties and candidates, and for public information.

    “We urge parties and candidates to strictly adhere to the specified timelines for the seamless conduct of these elections.”

    According to the timetable seen by The Nation, political parties are expected to conduct party primaries and produce candidates for the bye-elections between January 5 and 9.

    The parties are expected to submit the list of their candidates to the commission between January 10 and 13, while the final list of candidates will be published on January 117, with campaigns starting January 18.

  • INEC fixes by-elections into Senate, House, others for  Feb

    INEC fixes by-elections into Senate, House, others for  Feb

    Rerun and by-elections to fill existing vacancies in the National Assembly and Houses of Assembly will hold in the first week of February next year,  Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  gave the hint yesterday.

    It said only candidates that participated in the last general election will be involved in the rerun.

    For the by-elections, parties will be allowed to conduct primaries to pick their candidates. 

    INEC Chairman  Prof. Mahmood Yakubu charged party leaders at a meeting in Abuja to prepare for the elections that would same day.

    He said based on judgments by different courts,  the rerun would be held in 34 federal and state constituencies made up of one in the Senate, 11 federal constituencies and 22 state constituencies.

    According to him,  34 seats scheduled for the rerun constitute   2.8 percent of the total number of litigations filed after the 2023 general elections.

    He added that  INEC would conduct bye-elections to fill vacancies created by the resignation or death of members.

    Yakubu added that the exact date for the polls and a comprehensive timetable would be released soon.

    He said: “The purpose of this meeting is to brief party leaders on the Commission’s preparation for the forthcoming elections to be held early in the new year.

    “The elections are in two categories. First, as the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals set up in the aftermath of the 2023 general election gradually wind up their proceedings, the commission is required to conduct re-run elections in some constituencies by court order.

    “Secondly, the commission is also required to conduct bye-elections to fill vacancies arising from the death or resignation of members of the National and State Houses of Assembly.

    “The commission intends to combine and conduct the two categories of elections on the same day, the details of which will be discussed at this meeting.

    “As you are aware, re-run elections only involve the parties and candidates that participated in the general election unless a party wishes to replace a deceased candidate. However, bye-elections are fresh elections. Consequently, political parties must conduct fresh primaries within the limited time provided by law.

    Read Also: Lagos, Ogun, five others named most viable states

    “So far, the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals have ordered the commission to conduct re-run elections in 34 constituencies made up of one Senatorial district, 11 federal constituencies and 22 state assembly constituencies.

    “However, the 34 constituencies constitute 2.8 percent of the 1,191 petitions filed by litigants. Significantly, out of the 34 re-run elections, it is only in three cases that the commission was ordered to conduct elections in the entire constituency. In the other 31 constituencies, elections are to be held in a few polling units.

    “I want to assure you that at the end of all the litigations, including the governorship elections pending on appeal at the Supreme Court, the commission will present a comprehensive analysis of the petitions, including cases where the commission was ordered to issue certificates of return to other candidates and the reasons for the decisions by the courts as part of the lessons learned from the 2023 general election for the consequential reforms to improve the conduct of future elections.

    “With regard to the bye-elections, you may recall that in my recent address at the swearing-in of new Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) which was combined with our last quarterly meeting with the RECs nationwide, I committed that the commission will conduct elections to fill vacancies in the national and state assembly constituencies.

    “The commission is looking at the first week of February 2024 i.e. in just a little over one month to conduct both the re-run and bye-elections.

    “At the end of this consultative meeting, the commission will meet to review preparations and announce a definite date, including the detailed timetable and schedule of activities for the elections. full delimitation details, including locations, number of polling units, registered voters and permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) collected in each constituency will be uploaded to our website for public information.”