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Tag: Inec

  • INEC to verify eight associations seeking registration as parties

    INEC to verify eight associations seeking registration as parties

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday announced that eight of the 14 political associations seeking registration as political parties have met the criteria to proceed to the next stage of the exercise. 

    National Commissioner & Chairman,

    Information and Voter Education Committee,  Sam Olumekun said in a statement that the eight associations successfully uploaded the required information on its dedicated portal at the close of the exercise on the 18th October, 2025.

    The Commission had earlier pre-qualified 14 associations out of about 171 that submitted letters of intent to be registered as political parties. 

    The statement reads: “Further to the Commission’s earlier update on Thursday, 11th September 2025, on the ongoing process for the registration of political parties, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held its regular meeting today, Thursday, 30th October 2025, and, among other issues, reviewed progress made since that announcement.

    “Following the briefing held for 14 pre-qualified associations on Tuesday, 17th September 2025, the Commission opened its dedicated portal for the upload of required documents from Wednesday, 18th September to Friday, 18th October 2025 at midnight.

    “As of Saturday, 19th October 2025, eight (8) out of the fourteen (14) pre-qualified associations successfully completed the upload of all necessary information and documentation. 

    “The associations are All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Citizens Democratic Alliance (CDA), Abundance Social Party (ASP), African Alliance Party (AAP), Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Green Future Party (GFP), National Democratic Party (NDP) and Peoples Freedom Party (PFP). 

    ‘The next step in the registration process is the detailed assessment and verification of the information and documents submitted by each association. This stage will ensure conformity with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties (2022).

    “The Commission wishes to reaffirm its commitment to inclusivity, transparency, and the deepening of Nigeria’s democratic culture.”

  • Political parties sign peace accord for Niger council polls

    Political parties sign peace accord for Niger council polls

    All 10 political parties contesting in the November 1 Niger State Local Government council elections have signed peace accord pact. 

    The Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) has begun the distribution of sensitive materials to the local government areas for timely arrival. 

    The Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman during  the stakeholders/Peace Accord meeting comprising various political parties said that the gathering was aimed at fostering maturity, responsibility and collective commitment to peace by all the stakeholders.

    He added that the peace accord spelt out the terms and conditions to ensure the conduct of a free, fair and credible electioneering process adding that the Police Command and other security agencies in partnership with NSIEC have made comprehensive arrangements to provide a secured and peaceful environment for the election. 

    The Police Commissioner advised youths and political party supporters to be ambassadors of peace by refraining from being used as tools for electoral violence/disruption assuring all the stakeholders of the Command’s readiness to exhibit professionalism, neutrality and provide security coverage before, during and after the election process.

    He enjoined all participants to take the peace accord signing process seriously and abide by its provisions as its an oath. 

    The IPAC Chairman commended NSIEC for giving an ample time of six months to make necessary preparations and also appreciated key stakeholders, stating that the election process in the state has been peaceful so far. 

    During the flag off of the distribution of the sensitive materials, the NISEC Chairman, Engineer Mohammed Jubril Imam said that all political parties have been cooperarive so far pointing that any act of violence during the election will have a consequence on those who perpetuate it. 

    He said that it would be a manual accreditation system and not electronic accreditation calling fir cooperation from everyone both the electorate and the political parties.

    Imam pointed that election should be seen as a contest if ideas and not a battlefield during that the NSIEC will conduct an election that will stand the test of integrity and reflect the will of the people.

    He further said that over 5,000 ad-hoc staff would be on ground to conduct the election across all the wards in the state adding that measures have been put in place to move staff across riverine areas and security affected areas.

  • Court orders permanent forfeiture of $49, 700 recovered from ex-INEC REC

    Court orders permanent forfeiture of $49, 700 recovered from ex-INEC REC

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order for the final forfeiture of $49, 700. 00 said to have been recovered from a former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Sokoto State in the 2023 general elections, Dr Nura Ali.

    Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order in a ruling on Wednesday after a lawyer from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Osuobeni Akponimisingha, moved a motion on notice he filed.

    Akponimisingha said following an earlier interim forfeiture order granted by the court, the ICPC made a newspaper publication for interested person(s) to show cause why the recovered funds should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government, as directed by the court.

    He said no person indicated interest after publication and that no body came to court on Wednesday to contest the ownerahip of the funds 

    The lawyer then prayed the court to issue an order forfeiting the sum of $49, 700.00 to the Federal Government since no one came forward to claim same.

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    Justice Nwite had, on December 30, 2024 issued an order of temporary forfeiture of the seized funds, while ruling on amotion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1846/2024, filed by the ICPC.

    The ICPC in a court filing, claimed that the victim of the alleged crime was the Federal Government of Nigeria and innocent taxpayers which include judges of courts across the country.

    It said the money was recovered during a search operation by operatives of the DSS at the residence of Ali.

    The ICPC added: “The alleged moveable property of $49,700.00 was bribe money received by Dr Nura Ali when he was the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Sokoto State.

    “The alleged moveable property is not the legitimate earning of Dr Ali as independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner. 

    “The alleged moveable property is suspected to be proceed of crime,” it said.

    The ICPC argued that INEC is not in the practice of paying its staff with United States dollar as salaries or allowances.

    It said the essence of the application was not to compulsorily acquire the alleged moveable property from the alleged owner, but to preserve the property from dissipation.

  • INEC vows to work with security agencies to combat vote buying

    INEC vows to work with security agencies to combat vote buying

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, yesterday warned that any attempt to induce voters before or during the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State would be resisted and curtailed.

    Speaking at the first consultative meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), Amupitan urged Nigerians—especially political actors—to unite in combating the menace of vote buying as a way of restoring integrity to the electoral process.

    He said the commission was working closely with relevant law enforcement agencies, particularly the anti-graft agencies, to stop vote buyers from contaminating the electoral process.

    Read Also: Power of incumbency impairs Nigeria’s electoral integrity, says ex-INEC Chair Jega

    “Security agents cannot afford to create an environment that allows vote buyers to operate during the Anambra election,” he said.

    “Together, let us combat vote buying, uphold the values of democracy, and work relentlessly for the credibility of our elections. The path ahead may be challenging, but if we stand united, there is nothing we cannot achieve.”

    The INEC boss said that following a week-long comprehensive readiness assessment conducted across Anambra State, the commission was confident of its full preparedness for the polls.

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    According to him, INEC recently conducted a mock accreditation exercise in 12 selected polling units across six local government areas of the state, using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to test-run its facilities and readiness.

  • Anambra Gov poll: We must resist vote buying, says INEC chairman

    Anambra Gov poll: We must resist vote buying, says INEC chairman

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan on Tuesday warmed any attempt to induce voters before or during the November 8 governorship election in Anambra election must be resisted and curtailed. 

    Speaking at the first consultative meeting with members of the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), he said  political actors must join hands to combat the menace of vote buying as a way of restoring the integrity of the electoral process. 

    Amupitan said the Commission was working with the relevant law enforcement agencies, especially the anti-graft agencies, to stop vote buyers from contaminating the electoral process, saying “security agents cannot afford to create an environment that allows vote buyers to operate during the Anambra election. 

    “Together, let us combat vote buying, uphold the values of democracy and work relentlessly for the credibility of our elections. The path ahead may be challenging, but if we stand united, there is nothing we cannot achieve”.

    The INEC boss said following a week-long, comprehensive readiness assessment conducted across Anambra State, the Commission is confident in affirming its full preparedness for the polls. 

    According to him, the commission recently conducted mock accreditation exercise in 12 selected polling units in 6 Local Government Areas of Anambra State, using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to test run its facilities and readiness for the election. 

    He said: “Although we encountered some network challenges, efforts are being made to ensure a seamless election on 8th November, 2025, and we are ready for large-scale deployment on Election Day”. 

    He disclosed that the commission plan to deploy 24,000 personnel, adding that elections will be held in 5,718 of the 5,720 polling units in the State, adding that voting will not take place in the remaining two polling units due to the absence of registered voters while results will be collated at 326 ward centres, 21 Local Government Area centres, and finally at the State Collation Centre in Awka.

    National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, said the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) remains fully committed to fulfilling President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive on the strategic mobilisation of security forces during the electoral period, adding that this commitment is essential to ensuring the highest level of safety and security.

    Represented by the Director of Internal Security, Hassan Yahaya Abdullahi, the NSA said robust security measures have been put in place, including enhanced surveillance, the deployment of sufficient security personnel, and improved intelligence gathering to prevent any attempt by disruptive elements or desperate politicians to undermine the electoral process.

    He said the office of the NSA was proactively engaging with political party leaders and local stakeholders to send a clear message that violence will not be tolerated in our elections, adding that all participating political parties and their candidates must advocate for peace and encourage their supporters to conduct themselves in a manner that honours the integrity of our electoral system. 

    The NSA said any form of violence during the elections will be met with a strong, uncompromising response, saying “the Nigeria Police Force, as the lead agency for election security, along with other security agencies, stands prepared and resolute to maintain a secure environment during the Anambra State governorship elections.” 

  • Anambra election: INEC extends collection of PVC to Nov. 2

    Anambra election: INEC extends collection of PVC to Nov. 2

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the ongoing collection of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) in Anambra to Nov. 2 to enable eligible voters to collect their cards.

    Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, Director, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC in the state made the disclosure in a statement on Monday in Awka.

    “The INEC has approved the extension of the ongoing collection of PVC in Anambra from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2.

    “The decision was reached at a meeting of the commission held on October 27, following several appeals from citizens and stakeholders requesting additional time to enable eligible voters to collect their cards,” she said.

    Read Also: Power of incumbency impairs Nigeria’s electoral integrity, says ex-INEC Chair Jega

    According to her, registered voters who are yet to collect their PVCs are encouraged to take advantage of this extended window to do so at the designated collection centres across the 326 Registration Areas (Wards) in the state.

    She said that the exercise covered persons who registered during the recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the state.

    She said that the collection of the PVCs must be in person, as no collection by proxy would be allowed.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state governorship election would be held on November 8.

    (NAN)

  • Conduct free, fair election, stakeholders will applaud you, YPP tells INEC

    Conduct free, fair election, stakeholders will applaud you, YPP tells INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been urged to adhere strictly to electoral laws and ensure a free, fair, and credible governorship election on November 8.

    This call was made by the Young Progressives Party (YPP) governorship candidate, Sir Paul Chukwuma.

    “Let me begin by emphasising that the YPP is fully committed to a peaceful, free, and fair election process in Anambra State on November 8, as a progressive political party,” Chukwuma stated.

    In a statement released by the Director of Media, Sir Paul Chukwuma Campaign Council, Dr Ebuka Onyekwelu, the party said that Anambra State deserves better than what it is currently experiencing.

    According to the YPP, “So far, we have conducted our political campaigns with utmost civility and have maintained a clear focus on governance issues.

    “We did not join this race to be distracted by trivial or sensational topics that do not affect the daily lives of our people in Anambra State.

    “The issues are simple. First, the governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Soludo, has not done enough to justify the enormous revenues he has managed on behalf of the people and government of Anambra State in the past three years.

    “Secondly, insecurity has been allowed to thrive under his administration. It is only now, in an election year, that the governor is beginning to show interest in addressing it. Recall that Operation Udo Ga Chi was launched only this year, after years of loss of lives and property under his watch.

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    “We are also concerned that the revenue collected so far does not correspond with the visible work on the ground in Anambra State.

    “The message from Paul Chukwuma and his running mate, Uzu Okagbue, is clear: Anambra Deserves Better. Our people are embracing this message because they know they deserve far more than they are currently getting.

    “We have been mobilising extensively, and many of our supporters are already at collection centres in their wards, picking up their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). We urge them to remain steadfast. We are confident that Ndi Anambra will deliver a verdict of no confidence on the current government through their votes in exactly two weeks.”

    The YPP further demanded that INEC uphold its integrity and ensure strict compliance with its regulations.

    “Beyond our commitment to ensuring a peaceful and credible election, we insist that INEC must not turn a blind eye or allow the current administration in Anambra State to act as if it is above the law.

    “INEC must also take a firm stand on the growing problem of vote-buying, which the Anambra State Government took to a new level during the last by-election. Is vote-buying now an accepted part of our election process?

    “In all, we boldly demand that INEC demonstrate an impeccable commitment to its own rules. Doing so will naturally encourage stakeholders’ compliance and help deliver free and credible polls on November 8,” the statement concluded.

  • INEC: Anambra election will test upgraded BVAS

    INEC: Anambra election will test upgraded BVAS

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State will serve as a test for the upgraded Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

    According to the commission, the exercise will help assess the efficiency of the upgraded BVAS and evaluate the process of uploading results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    INEC also disclosed that no fewer than 540 journalists from across the country have been accredited to cover the upcoming election.

    The National Commissioner supervising Anambra State and Chairman of the Tenders Board Committee, Dr Kenneth Ikeagu, made this known on Saturday night while addressing reporters at the INEC headquarters in Awka.

    He explained that the election would take place across 5,718 polling units in the state, with about 24,000 trained ad hoc staff deployed to ensure a smooth process.

    “INEC is ready for this election. The commission is fully prepared and committed to conducting a credible, fair, and inclusive governorship poll,” Ikeagu said.

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    He noted that INEC had implemented a comprehensive plan of action covering logistics, technology, training, stakeholder engagement, and security coordination.

    As part of its preparations, the commission conducted a mock accreditation exercise in selected polling units across the three senatorial districts of the state on Saturday.

    “The exercise was designed to test the upgraded BVAS, assess its efficiency, and evaluate the process of uploading results to the IReV portal ahead of the main election,” Ikeagu added.

  • UPDATED: Amupitan assumes duty as INEC chairman

    UPDATED: Amupitan assumes duty as INEC chairman

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan assumed duty on Thursday with a promise that the integrity of the nation’s electoral system was not negotiable. Amupitan arrived the INEC headquarters in Maitama area of Abuja at exactly 2.27 pm in a white coaster bus and a motor cade accompanied by the National Commissioners after his swearing in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

    He was however ushered into the conference Hall of the Commission at about 2.57pm clad in white babariga with a Yoruba traditional cap to match, where he was introduced to the Directors of the Commission. 

    He was accompanied to the Commission headquarters by  his wife, who is said to be a Professor; the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos where he was Deputy Vice Chancellor; Registrar of the University of Jos; the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University; the Bursar of the university as well as  the University Librarian. 

    Amupitan, who was  cleared by the Senate recently after endorsement of his nomination by the National Council of State was sworn in on Thursday by the President.  

    Addressing the staff of the Commission, Prof Amupitan pledge his commitment to electoral integrity and ensuring that the vote of Nigerians count, saying the eyes of Nigerians was on the commission. 

    He said as Chairman of the commission, he will work with the staff to promote the highest standard of discipline, transparency and integrity of the electoral system in the country and carrying out the constitutional mandate of the commission which is to deliver credible, free and fair election. 

    While calling for teamwork, he said: “We must work together to improve the entire electoral system. The Anambra election is not just another election, but an avenue to demonstrate free and fair election.” 

    Amupitan said working in unity of purpose by the entire staff of the commission was paramount in assuring Nigerians that their votes will count. 

    Read Also: Tinubu to Amupitan: ensure free, fair, credible elections

    He told the staff not to compromise their values, saying the integrity of the electoral system was not negotiable, while assuring that staff welfare and training will receive the needed attention. 

    He said: “I want to assure you of my commitment to holding the highest standard of integrity, transparency and discipline in all our operations. I want to give you that assurance, and also to let you know that our mandate is very clear as INEC. 

    “INEC has a constitutional responsibility and a statutory mandate which is it to deliver free, fair and credible elections that reflects the will of Nigerian people? To achieve this, we must work together as a team. So that’s why it was so important for us to start our assignment with this interaction. 

    “We have to be team players. While we look at the KPIs of individuals. We will also look at how it’s tied to your overall performance as a team players, which is very, very crucial for us. Therefore, to achieve this, we have to work together, leveraging on our unique skills and expertise and improve our own process. So the essence is to tap your brains so that we’ll be able to achieve our mandates. 

    “As we gather for this meeting, it’s important to acknowledge the critical role of INEC tp the future of Nigeria. The upcoming Anambra State governorship election is not just Another electoral exercise. It represents an opportunity for us to demonstrate our commitment to free, fair and credible elections the eyes of the nation are upon us, and it is our duty to rise to that location.”

  • BREAKING: Tinubu swears in Amupitan as new INEC Chairman

    BREAKING: Tinubu swears in Amupitan as new INEC Chairman

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday swore in Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), formally marking the beginning of his tenure as head of the nation’s electoral body.

    The ceremony took place at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja ahead of an expanded meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC).

    Charging the new INEC Chairman, President Tinubu urged him to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process and strengthen the institutional capacity of the Commission to deliver credible elections.

    Amupitan’s appointment followed the unanimous endorsement of his nomination by the National Council of State, to which the President had earlier submitted his name. 

    His confirmation by the Senate came after a voice vote conducted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

    A Professor of law at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Amupitan hails from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. 

    He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014 and is widely recognised for his expertise in company law, law of evidence, corporate governance, and privatisation law.

    With his assumption of office, the new INEC boss faces immediate responsibilities, including preparations for the Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November this year and the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections in February 2026.

    Details shortly…