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  • UPDATED: Court restrains INEC, Rivers Assembly from declaring 27 pro-Wike lawmakers’ seats vacant

    UPDATED: Court restrains INEC, Rivers Assembly from declaring 27 pro-Wike lawmakers’ seats vacant

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Rivers State House of Assembly from declaring vacant the seats of the 27 members of the Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule.

    Justice Donatus Okoro, in a ruling on Friday, also restrained INEC from conducting fresh elections to fill the seats of the 27 lawmakers, who had last week announced, in the legislative chamber, their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The ruling was on an ex-parte application filed by the 27 lawmakers, led by Amaewhule, who are members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023.

    Justice Okorowo gave the ruling after listening to a lawyer to the lawmakers (believed to be loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and immediate past Governor of River State, Nyesom Wike) Peter Onoh, who moved the ex-parte application.

    Listed as defendants in the suit are 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).

    The orders granted by Justice Okorowo are: “An order of interim injunction restraining the first and third defendants/respondents (INEC and Rivers Assembly), either by themselves, their officials, officers, servants, agents, servants, staff or privies (anyhow so-called), from declaring vacant or taking any steps whatsoever to declare vacant the seats of the plaintiffs/applicants at the Rivers State House of Assembly; from withdrawing the plaintiffs/applicants’ respective certificates of return and from conducting fresh elections to fill in the seats of the plaintiffs/applicants at the Rivers State House of Assembly, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    Read Also: Appeal court victory: We’re one big family, Fintiri’s deputy tells Adamawa people

    “An order of interim injunction restraining the first defendant/respondent (INEC)  from conducting fresh elections to fill the seats of the plaintiffs/applicants in the Rivers State House of Assembly, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    “An order of interim injunction restraining the defendants/respondents, jointly and or severally, by themselves or their servants, agents, officials, officers, staff, delegates of other persons deriving authority from them (anyhow so-called), from interfering with or impeding in any way or attempting to interfere with or impede in any way the performance of the plaintiffs’ official and legislative functions as the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and members, respectively, of the Rivers State House of Assembly, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    “An order of interim injunction restraining the defendants/respondents, jointly and or severally, by themselves or their servants, agents, officials, officers, staff, delegates or other persons deriving authority from them (anyhow so-called), from interfering with or impeding in any way or attempting to interfere with or impede in any way, the full enjoyment of the official rights and privileges of the plaintiffs/applicants as the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and members, respectively, of the Rivers State House of Assembly, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    “An order of interim injunction restraining the 5th and 6th defendants (IGP and DSS), by themselves, officers, subordinates, servants or agents from denying or refusing to provide security for the plaintiffs or howsoever withdrawing their security details or personnel or failing to provide adequate security for the plaintiffs/applicants

    for the purpose of enabling the said plaintiffs/applicants to continue with the performance of their constitutional legislative and oversight functions as the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and members, respectively, of the Rivers State House of Assembly; and or from taking any adverse security measures or step (whatever shape such steps may be) capable preventing or obstructing the plaintiffs/applicants from performing their functions and duties as the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and members, respectively, of the Rivers State House of Assembly, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    Justice Okorowo ordered the plaintiffs/applicants to undertake damages in the sum of N250miion and adjourned till December 28 for the hearing of the motion on notice.

    Meanwhile, the leader of the faction of the House of Assembly loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara had written INEC to conduct a fresh election to fill the seats of the 27 pro-Wike legislators.

    In a December 14 letter to INEC Chairman, factional Speaker, Edision Ehie said the request for a fresh election was based on the House’s resolution on December 13 declaring the seats of the 27 lawmakers vacant.

    Ehie accompanied the letter with a copy of the resolutions of his faction of the Assembly, listing the names of the other faction’s members and their constituencies.

    The letter, received at the office of the INEC Chairman on December 15 reads: “I write to formally bring to your notice vacancies in the scats of the under-listed constituencies and membership, pursuant to Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

    “The under-listed members, who represented the respective constituencies indicated against their names jointly and severally, decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under whose platform they were elected, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the 11th day of December 2023.

    “As a result and in accordance with Section 109 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and by resolution of the House at the 90th legislative sitting of the Rivers State House of Assembly held on Wednesday, 13th day of December 2023, their seats were declared vacant.

    “Consequently, I write on behalf of the Rivers State House of Assembly to kindly request for a by-election to be conducted to fill the vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly.”

    However, a group, Concerned Lawyers in Defence of Democracy (CLDD) has urged the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho to probe the circumstances leading to the ex-parte orders issued on Friday by Justice Okorowo.

    The group’s spokesman, Okere Kingdom Nnamdi said the probe became necessary in order not to soil the reputation of the Judiciary.

    Nnamdi added: “We’ve done so much in the defence of this democracy and we will continue to do everything within the am bit of the law to defend this democracy.

    “We gathered that there is going to be a ruling Justice Donatus Okorowo, on Monday, 18th December, 2023 and that they intercepted the information.

    “I know the workings of the court, the application was filed last week Wednesday and it was hurriedly assigned between the day it was filed and last Friday to Justice Okorowo and ruling is expected to be delivered today, December 18.

    “One interesting thing I want the media to know is that, there is a twist to what we saw in the media. 

    “The Registrar in the court of Justice Okorowo has confirmed that the application was filed and that it was brought before their court. He added that the ruling was delivered on Friday.

    “The question we are asking this morning is, what is the urgency in that matter?  Why will such an application be filed on Wednesday, and get to Justice Okorowo on Friday, who sat on the same that day and delivered the ruling on it?

    “We have applied for the certified true copy of the order and paid and we are going to pursue this matter to a logical conclusion.

    “We are calling on the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to investigate the order said to have been given by Justice Okorowo. This Nigeria cannot be taken bum politicians into their pockets.

    “Federal High Court has a reputation, this kind of application is often seen in other courts.  You can rarely see this kind of application in the Federal High Court because it has a reputation.

    “The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court must look into how this case was filed,  how it got to Justice Okorowo’s court and how his Registrar claimed that they sat on Friday,  whereas, what we gathered yesterday was that the ruling was going to be delivered today.

    “This calls for an urgent and thorough investigation. We are challenging the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to maintain the integrity of the court.

    “We are also calling on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to look into the matter very critically. 

    “Democracy must be sustained and firmly rooted in this country and as lawyers in defence of democracy, this is not the first time. We are intervening in issues like this whenever we observe illegalities coming up.

    “These people who have come to file this application, as we speak, are not members of Rivers State House of Assembly in the eyes of the law.

    “The Rivers State House of Assembly has invoked the constitutional provision of Section 109(1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution. Until that section is expunged, the law remains.  In the eyes of the law, the former Speaker and his other colleagues are former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. They should go to the Court of Appeal to challenge the decision of the Rivers State High Court. 

    “The Rivers State High Court and the Federal High Court have co-ordinate jurisdiction, they (the defecting lawmakers) should approach the Court of Appeal to set aside the decision of the state high court and not the Federal High Court.

    “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been notified that they have been suspended.

    “Rivers State High Court and the Federal High Court have equal, powers, the 26 lawmakers should go on appeal and not destroy the reputation of the Federal High Court. They should go to the Appeal Court and challenge the procedure that suspended them.”

  • Court stops INEC from conducting bye election to replace 27 Rivers lawmakers

    Court stops INEC from conducting bye election to replace 27 Rivers lawmakers

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting bye-election to replace 27 Rivers Assembly members who defected to APC.

    On December 11, the Nation had reported that 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who are said to be loyal to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have reportedly defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Read Also: BREAKING: Bye elections, rerun elections may hold Feb 1 – INEC

    Donatus Okorowo, the presiding judge, gave the order on Friday, but was made available to the Nation on Monday.

    The court also stopped the four member House of Assembly led by Speaker Edison from declaring vacant the seat of the 27 APC Rivers Assembly Members.

    Details shortly…

  • BREAKING: Bye elections, rerun elections may hold Feb 1 – INEC

    BREAKING: Bye elections, rerun elections may hold Feb 1 – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is considering conducting bye-elections and rerun elections across the country on Thursday, February 1, 2024, to fill existing vacancies in the state and federal legislature.

    The commission’s chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this at a meeting with leaders of political parties to prepare for the elections.

    Read Also: INEC yet to access N18 billion supplementary budget – Yakubu

    Prof. Yakubu said at the end of litigation, the courts have ordered the commission to conduct rerun elections in 34 federal and state constituencies made up of one in the Senate, 11 federal constituencies, and 22 state constituencies.

    In addition, he said the commission will conduct bye-elections to fill vacancies created as a result of resignation or death of members.

    He said that an authentic date for the election and a comprehensive timetable will be released at the end of the meeting with party leaders.

    Details shortly…

  • INEC yet to access N18 billion supplementary budget – Yakubu

    INEC yet to access N18 billion supplementary budget – Yakubu

    The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said on Thursday, December 14, that the commission was still waiting for cash backing for the N18 billion approved as supplementary budget for the commission by the National Assembly before the last off cycle elections in the country.

    Prof Yakubu who spoke while defending the commission’s 2024 budget proposal before the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, also said that the N40 billion appropriated for the Commission for 2024 can only cover its personnel and social contributions.

    The INEC chairman alluded to the fact that with the current envelope given to them in the 2024 budget, it will be difficult to conduct electoral activities in 2024.

    Governorship elections are expected to be conducted in Ondo and Edo states in 2024.

    He said with a personnel cost of about N35 billion, the budget did not make adequate provision for capital, overhead and electoral matters in the 2024 budget.

    While insisting that the N40 billion allocation to the commission was grossly inadequate, Prof Yakubu said INEC would require about N89 billion for its operations in 2024

    He recalled that the sum of N50 billion was appropriated for INEC in the 2023 appropriation as its statutory budget and an additional N18 billion was approved for the Commission in the Supplementary Budget, bringing it to a total sum of N68 billion budgeted for INEC in 2023.

    Read Also: Rivers Crisis: Wike now Dean of Politics in Nigeria – APC

    He said: “We need N89 billion rather than N40 billion. We have given a detailed breakdown of how we intend to spend the N89 billion. Personnel cost rises from N26.5 billion in 2023 to N44.5 billion in 2024, overhead cost N7.9 billion, electoral expenditure N9.7 billion and a capital expenditure N909 Million.

    ‘The N40 billion given to us under the envelope budget is grossly inadequate to meet our expenditure requirement for 2024. You may recall that the Federal Government introduced the 40 percent peculiar allowance in March 2023 and all Agencies that are on the Consolidated Public Salary Structure were required to pay the consolidated salaries.”

    “The circular came after the budget was appropriated in December 2022. So, no provision was made in the budget at all. To pay the peculiar allowance to over 15 thousand staff of the Commission we needed N10.6 billion that was not provided for.

    “At the same time Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) was revised by a minimum of 100 percent across the board. Again, we could not implement it. Then after the withdrawal of the fuel subsidy, the N35 Thousand wage award by the Federal Government for 6 months from September 2023 to February 2024 was announced and there was no provision in our budget for the implementation of these categories of allowances.

    “So, we made a case to the Executive, and they made a provision for N18 billion for INEC under the Supplementary budget to enable us meet these obligations.

    “Practically speaking, the budget for the Commission for 2023 is N68 billion; the N50 billion plus the N18 billion under the supplementary budget. But I must also say that we are waiting for cash backing for the N18 billion under the supplementary budget. We hope that very soon we will get the cash backing,

    “We are surprised that the 2024 budget dropped from N68 billion to N40 billion because that was what was appropriated to the Commission in 2021. So the amount is simply insufficient to even meet personnel costs because of the new policy on additional allowances for officials.

    “The N40 billion can only cover personnel costs and social contributions. Our personnel cost in 2023 was N21.8 billion but because of the 40 percent peculiar allowance, the new DTA, the 35 percent wage award, and others, our wage bill now is N36.5 billion. If you take it out of the N40 billion, there is virtually nothing left in the budget for Capital, Electoral, and Overhead Expenditures.“

    The chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu emphasized the need for N89 billion as the proposal that will make the Commission comfortable for the conduct of elections and electoral activities in 2024, saying “his budget covers all INEC offices nationwide and all INEC activities.”

  • JUST IN: INEC swears in nine new RECs

    JUST IN: INEC swears in nine new RECs

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday, December 12, inaugurated nine out of the ten Resident Electorol Commissioners (RECs) that were recently appointed by the president and cleared by the National Assembly. 

    However, the Resident Electoral Commissioner appointed from Akwa Ibom state, Etekamba Umoren, was not among those sworn in at a meeting of the commission with state Resident Electoral Conmisisoners. 

    The INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said he would be sworn in January when the tenure of the Resident Electoral Commissioner from Akwa Ibom state currently serving in Delta will expire. 

    Read Also: Rivers: PDP urges INEC to declare lawmakers’ seats vacant

    Those sworn in are  Isah Shaka Ehimeakne (Edo State), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola  (Ekiti State) Abubakar Ahmed Ma’aji (Gombe State), Shehu Wahab (Kwara State), Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi (Lagos State), Aminu Kasimu Idris (Nasarawa State), Prof. Mohammed Yelwa (Niger State), Dr. Anugbum Onuoha (Rivers State) and  Isma’ila Kaura Moyi (Zamfara State).

    Details shortly… 

  • International, local observers laud INEC over Kogi poll

    International, local observers laud INEC over Kogi poll

    The Independent Observer Mission in Kogi State has scored the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) high over the conduct of the November 11 governorship exercise.  

    In its report made public on Monday , the observers described the election that produced Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as transparent, free and fair. 

    In the 20-page document presented by its leader, Princess Ajibola, the observers said the exercise was generally peaceful with high security presence and voter turnout across the state. 

    Giving a breakdown in each local government area, the observers, however, admitted that pockets of violence were experienced in Idah, Dekina, Ankpa, and three others. 

    The group blamed the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the slight breakdown of law and other as well as other hitches experienced in these areas. 

    “The November gubernatorial elections in Kogi State was generally peaceful with low incidents of violence,” the report concluded. 

    Read Also: LASIEC receives updated voters register from INEC

    “In areas where violence was experienced, the security forces brought it under control.  We observed that the election was credible and transparent.  

    “The outcome of the election is a reflection of hard work and political calculations and strategy which saw the candidate of the APC Alhaji Usman Ododo emerge victorious. 

    “On the day of the election, there was a massive turnout of voters in Kogi Central and Kogi East as a result of the ethnic dimension the election took.  Voters in the two senatorial zones of Kogi Central and West voted massively for the candidate of APC. 

    “This gave him victory over his opponents.  The Independent Electoral Commission and the security forces must be commended for conducting one of the most peaceful and credible elections in the history of Nigeria’s elections.  

    “It is on record that Kogi State recorded the lowest case of electoral violence in the off-cycle election among three states where the election was conducted with 14 incidents.”

  • Alleged underage voters: Court gives INEC 90 days to handover officials responsible for prosecution

    Alleged underage voters: Court gives INEC 90 days to handover officials responsible for prosecution

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to identity, within 90 days, its officials involved in the registration of the underaged during the continuous voters’ registration (CVR) exercise in polling units across the country.

    Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a judgment, also directed the culprits to be produced and handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agency for investigation and possible prosecution.

    Justice Egwuatu equally made a mandatory order, compelling INEC to expunge forthwith from its national voters’ register the names of all the underage voters from each of the polling unit across the federation published on her website as identified and compiled by the plaintiff in “Exhibit A” attached to the affidavit in support of the originating summons.

    The judge further made a mandatory order, compelling the commission to furnish the plaintiff with a certified true copy (CTC) of the cleaned up national voters’ register of all the persons eligible to vote in Nigeria within 90 days.

    Alternatively, he ordered the electoral umpire to publish the cleaned up national voters’ register of all the persons eligible to vote in the country in its website within 90 days from the date of the judgment.

    He also answered the six questions posed by the plaintiff in the positive

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the plaintiff, Rev. Mike Agbon, in the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/367/2023 filed on Match 17 through his lawyer, Desmond Yamah, had sued INEC as sole defendant.

    In the suit, the plaintiff posited six questions for determination including “whether the defendant is constitutionally, legally ard duty bound to conduct credible CVR in tre Federal Republic of Nigeria

    “Whether the defendant is bound by the constitution and its enabling statute, the Electoral Act, 2022, to act in strict compliance with the provisions of the constitution and its enabling act.

    “Whether by virtue of Section 23 of the Electoral Act, 2022, it is illegal and unlawful for the defendant to have registered underaged i.e, infants and toddlers, during the CVR.

    “Whether the admission by the defendant that it has a substantial number of the underaged, illegal and illegible voters published in its voters’ register, exonerates the defendant from any sanction within the ambit of the law for registering underaged as contained in Sections 12 & 23 of the Electoral Act, 2022,” among others.

    Agbon, therefore, sought “a mandatory order, compelling and directing the defendant to forthwith within a period of one month to identify, produce and handover its officials that are involved in the registration of the underaged in each polling unit across the federation for investigation and prosecution by the appropriate law enforcement agency,” etc.

    The plaintiff submitted that for many years now, particularly since the return of the country to democratic governance in May 1999, the regrettable issue of lack of credibility of the electoral processes had been a recurring challenge which had greatly distressed the political space.

    He said INEC by virtue of the provisions of the Electoral Act, maintains and updates the national voters’ register.

    Agbon said prior to the 2023 general elections, the electoral umpire conducted CVR nationwide and displayed the national register of voters on its website between the Nov. 12, 2022 and Nov. 25, 2022.

    He alleged that upon perusal of the national register of voters, he discovered that the commission registered underaged contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act, (supra) which clearly described the qualification for registration.

    The plaintiff backed his argument with compiled copies from the INEC website of the underage registered and marked it as “Exhibit A.”

    He told the court that on Nov. 23, 2022, INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, at a national stakeholders’ forum on elections organised by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (NCSSR), assured Nigerians that based on the observations of Nigerians, the commission would dutifully clean up the register ahead of the elections.

    Agbon said through his lawyer, he made a formal request for the commission to furnish him with the list and names of the underage and ineligible voters but it vehemently refused and ignored the said application.

    However, despite being served with court processes and hearing notices in the matter, INEC was neither represented in court nor file any defence.

    Delivering the judgment on Nov. 28 but a certified true copy sighted on Monday by NAN, Justice Egwuatu held that the conditions for qualification to be registered as a voter were stipulated in Sections 77 (2), and 117 (2) of the Constitution and Section 12 of the Electoral Act.

    According to him, the common features of these sections are that the voter must be a citizen of and residing in Nigeria and has attained the age of 18 years.

    Read Also: 10 INEC directors retire from service

    “As I have found earlier in this judgment, the voters registered by the defendant in Exhibit ‘A’ are underage, that is, they have not attained the age of 18 years.

    “What this translates into is that the registration officers and an update officers of the defendant failed in their duties to carry out the registration of voters in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act,” he said.

    Citing provisions of Section 120(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, he said any officer who acted in breach of his or her official duty committed an offence and would be liable on conviction for a maximum fine of N500, 000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both.

    (NAN)

  • 10 INEC directors retire from service

    10 INEC directors retire from service

    Ten directors heading different departments at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have officially retired from service.

    This came after they attained the mandatory 60 years of age or 35 years of service.

    The retirees are: Mrs. Blessing Obidiegwu (Gender and Inclusivity); Anthony Abarowei (Finance and Accounts); Micah Lakumna (Administration); Alhaji Idris Aminu (Election and Party Monitoring); Olayiwola Oyeniyi (Finance and Accounts); and Chima Duruaku (Planning and Monitoring).

    Others are: Mr. Leonard Lortsor (Estate, Works and Transport); Ayodele Aluko (Voter Education and Publicity); Samson Lebari (Security); and Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola (Legal Services and Drafting).

    Speaking at the send forth for the directors yesterday in Abuja, INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Mohammed Adams, congratulated the retirement for serving the commission well.

    “As you retire, you shouldn’t at any time worry yourself about the past but the future.

    “Don’t think this is the end of the road. This is actually the beginning of another journey of your lives because you are all professionals in your respective fields,” Adams said.

    The INEC national commissioner urged the retirees to engage in meaningful activities that would yield good income for them.

    He also advised people in active service not to be scared of retirement but to create a niche for themselves in whatever capacity they found themselves.

    “We should be happy with whatever position you find yourself; be grateful to God and create a niche for yourself,” he said.

    The INEC Secretary, Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, hailed the retired directors for their hard work and dedication to service.

    Read Also: FG budget N200 billion for military operation, poverty reduction

    Oriaran-Anthony, who was represented by the Director of INEC Secretariat, Mrs. Maryam Musa, congratulated them and whished them well in their future endeavours.

    The INEC Director of Training, Dr. Binta Kasim, encouraged the retirees to engage in whatever they derived pleasure from.

    “We have a lot of people who have who still made a lot of achievements after retirement including the owner KFC, some others wrote books that fetched them good money,” Kasim said.

    Speaking on behalf of the retirees, Mrs. Blessing Obidiegwu said they represented the last batch of INEC pioneer staff.

    The retired director expressed appreciation to the commission for the opportunity given to her and the others to serve the nation.

    She advised those in active service to continue to render their best for the commission, saying the gender policy of the commission should be sustained.

    “I am very happy that the gender struggle I started is moving on. With the number of women I am seeing here as directors the commission is doing well,” Mrs. Obidewu said.

    Another retiree, Mr. Chima Duruaku, praised INEC for the opportunity given to them to make modest contribution to its development and the electoral process.

    He also appreciated the recognition from the commission.

  • Police confirm attack on INEC REC’s residence in Kogi

    Police confirm attack on INEC REC’s residence in Kogi

    The Police in Kogi has confirmed reported attack on the residence of   INEC  Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr Gabriel Longpet.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Bethrand Onuoha, who confirmed the attack to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Friday, described the incident as very unfortunate and wicked.

    Onuoha, explained that the attackers came to the residence around 3.00a.m. of Friday but met stiff resistance from security operatives.

    “The joy of it all is that the hoodlums did not succeed in their nefarious act as my officers gallantly repelled their attack and burnt the vehicle they came with.

    “Right now there are soldiers stationed in the house alongside our personnel to keep watch and ensure safety.

    “Again all the junctions around the house and INEC office have heavily armed soldiers and policemen keeping watch to forestall any eventuality.

    “We want to assure the public that there’s no cause for alarm as we, the security operatives, are on top of  situation in  Kogi, ” he said.

    Responding to the attack, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and  the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state condemned it  but traded blames.

    Read Also: Kogi APC accuses Ajaka of masterminding attack on INEC REC’s residence

    While  the SDP called for immediate investigation into the incident to bring the perpetrators to book , APC blamed it on SDP with a call for the immediate arrest of  the SDP governorship candidate, Alhaji Muritala Ajaka over the  attack.

    The Director of Media and Publicity/Spokesperson for the APC Campaign Council, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, in an emergency news conference on Friday, said that aside from  the INEC commissioner’s residence, there were attempted attacks on the  Government House and the party’s secretariat.

    Fanwo accused the SDP of trying desperately to cover their offences  in Kogi East in the just concluded Nov. 11 governorship election in the state,  and to corrupt INEC documents that could be used at the election petition tribunal.

    He  called on the police, Department of State Services and other security agencies to immediately arrest what he  described as  slide to anarchy in the state,  by arresting Ajaka, and his supporters,  who allegedly masterminded the attack on the residence of the REC.

    “The attack was perpetrated days after we alerted the nation of plans  by the  SDP thugs to attack INEC.

    “They have finally done their worst by attacking the residence of the Kogi INEC commissioner, engaging security agents in a fierce gun battle and eventually burning down some vehicles in the residence and in the area, ” he said.

    But the SDP through its  Director of New Media, Muri/Sam Campaign Council, Mr
    Isaiah Ijele, in a statement said:  “We strongly condemn the assassination attempt on the INEC REC.

    Ijele blamed the attack on thugs loyal to the state government.

    “We are grateful for the timely intervention of the Army, as the man and his family could have been wiped out overnight.

    “The attackers also burnt his vehicles and took other valuables. This kind of behavior is not acceptable in a democratic society.

    “Those individuals who have been involved in these attacks on INEC REC must be held accountable for their actions.

    “We call for all those who have been involved in the protests, inciting violence and making provocative statements, to be apprehended and brought to justice,” he said.

    (NAN)

  • Our Kogi office under mob siege, says INEC

    Our Kogi office under mob siege, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated its office in Lokoja was under siege on Wednesday by persons it described as a mob, preventing its staff from carrying out their assigned responsibilities.

    A statement in Abuja by the Kogi Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Hale Gabriel Longpet, said the mob also prevented lawyers involved in the recent off cycle election in the state from inspecting materials used for the exercise.

    The Commission however assured that it was committed to granting unimpeded access to all materials needed to prosecute their petitions

    Read Also: Lagos Assembly begins assessment of roads

    The statement reads: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kogi State wishes to inform the public that the State Headquarters in Lokoja was besieged this morning by a mob that barricaded all entrances to the office and prevented access to staff to carry out routine duties.

    “The siege also prevented Attorneys representing political parties involved in the recent off-cycle governorship election from inspecting documents/materials used in the election.

    “It took the intervention of the Nigerian Army to calm the situation down at the State Headquarters. The security agencies have assured us that they will maintain normalcy on our premises.

    “We assure all parties and litigants that the Kogi State office is committed to granting unimpeded access to all materials needed to prosecute their petitions”.