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Tag: Inec

  • Breaking: INEC to conduct rerun in 36 polling units

    A rerun of the gubernatorial election in Bauchi will hold in 15 local government areas where votes were cancelled, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Bauchi office has said.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ibrahim Abdullahi , disclosed this at a press conference at the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu Conference Hall, INEC Headquarters in Bauchi on Thursday.

    Read Also: Bauchi: INEC to proceed with supplementary elections

    According to him, the rerun election will be held in 36 polling units covering 29 registration areas (wards) in the 15 affected local government areas with 22,759 registered voters.

    Details later…

  • Breaking: INEC to resume collation of Rivers results

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has fixed 13th April 2019 for supplementary election in Rivers state.

    Besides, the commission is to resume collation of results of the last Governorship and State Assembly elections on 2nd to 5th of April.

    Read Also: ‘INEC should withhold Ihedioha’s Certificate of Return’

    INEC however noted election had been concluded in 21 state constituencies.

    The commission is to meet with all critical stakeholders in the state on March 30.

    INEC has also fixed 28th March for the inter-agency (security) meeting.

    Full story coming…

  • Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat, others to receive Certificates of Return March 27

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Lagos State, says it will on March 27 present Certificates of Return to the Lagos State Governor-elect, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.

    Mr Sam Olumekun, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), said on Thursday that the lawmakers-elect of the Lagos State House of Assembly would also be given Certificates of Return the same day.

    “The presentation of certificate of return to elected candidates is in conformity with Section 75 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

    “The presentation ceremony will take place at INEC Lagos Office, 6, Birrel Avenue, Sabo-Yaba, at 11:00 am for the Governor-elect and his Deputy.

    “Meanwhile, that of the elected members of Lagos State House of Assembly will come up at 2:00pm,” Olumekun said in a statement.

    According to him, all invited guests are requested to be seated by 10:30am and 1:30pm respectively for the two ceremonies.

    The News Agency Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sanwo-Olu, of APC, polled 739,445 votes to defeat Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 206,141 votes, and other contestants in the March 9 governorship election.

    INEC declared Sanwo-Olu winner of the poll on March 10.

    The commission will on Saturday hold a supplementary election in the Ibeju-Lekki State Constituency I where the state assembly election was declared inconclusive.

    Candidates of APC won in all the other 39 constituencies where state assembly elections are already concluded by the electoral umpire.

  • INEC and our analogue electoral system

    Sir: Most countries in the world regard periodic and regular elections as a core attribute of democracy. In Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is in-charge of the electoral process. They clear eligible persons as candidates to contest various positions, register people who are eligible voters, conduction elections, count ballots and publish the results.

    With political positions mostly seen as the quickest route to acquire wealth and power in Nigeria, the competition to gain office has, over the years, had a significant impact on the credibility of the Nigerian electoral systems and their outcomes.

    To improve the integrity of the electoral process, former INEC chairman Professor AttahiruJega, under then President Goodluck Jonathan did a lot. They invested in the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and card reading machines. The new system required that voters be ‘biometrically’ verified before casting their votes. Exponents of the new technology were positive that the innovation would stamp out “broad-daylight rigging of elections”. To further challenge the perennial mistrust and incredulity constantly felt by voters when elections results do not truly represent their true picks, INEC recruited Academics to serve as returning officers during elections.

    Four years later, INEC set a new record in the Nigerian electoral cycle by postponing elections few hours to commencement.

    When the elections finally took place, it reintroduced the fact that our voting system is still susceptible to voter fraud. Besides viral videos of alleged INEC officials seen committing voter fraud and cases of underage voting in some parts of the country, the arduous method of hand-counting ballots and bawling out election results shows that our electoral system is analogue.As a consequence, the elections results, as alleged by many, was held up by manipulation and misrepresentation. This is a risk to our system. It is wrong for us to continue to deny or ignore.

    In most functional societies or organization, stakeholders know that risk cannot be eliminated. To a degree, the people with vested interest work together to mitigate and bring all risks faced by that organization or countryto an acceptable level.

    The choice of an electoral system is one of the most imperative institutional decisions for every democracy. The system is likely to have a weighty effect on the future political life of a country concerned, and the results produced by its electoral system. In fact, it is critical to enhancing the integrity of the electoral body.

    The electoral system is also a strong determinant of the future of democracy in every nation that has embraced this system of government where the citizens exercise power by voting. Hence, neglecting the underlying rules of elections can affect the practice of democracy.

    The solution to Nigeria’s historical election system fraud is not PVC and “card reader tech”. This is because the current system validates voters but lacks the capacity to protect the votes. Like other countries, we need to invest in an electoral system that can validate voters and shield the votes cast.

    An intelligent person once said that intelligent people change their views when the facts change. The current system requires upgrade. If we keep using this mechanical electoral system that lacks the technology to guard votes from manipulation, we might keep experiencing credibility issues and disgraceful election cycles.

    If INEC is serious about conducting credible elections in Nigeria going forward, then it needs to start working to invest in electoral system that will bring voter fraud to an acceptable level.

     

    • David Dimas, Laurel, Maryland, U.S.A.

  • Abdusalami Committee brokers Peace as tension grips Bauchi

    The National Peace Committee led by former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar on Wednesday appealed to stakeholders to calm their supporters in the wake of the halted collation of result for the March 9 governorship election.

    The committee also told them to urge their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully as they await the outcome of a recent order from the Federal High Court in Abuja halting the collation of result.

    The court restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from resuming collation of result for Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, the only LGA left to be announced.

    The former Head of State, who was represented by a member and Deputy Director of The Kukah Centre, Duke Anoemuah, gave the advice during a Town Hall meeting with stakeholders on the peaceful 2019 elections for governorship and State House of Assembly.

    During the meeting with the theme “Ensuring peaceful Co -existence during the elections in Bauchi State” Abubakar called on all political actors to preach a message of peace to their followers to comport themselves and prevent resentment that could result to violence.

    “This meeting is geared to reinforce peace, the message of peace and to implore actors and their supporters to accept the outcome of the results of various levels of the electioneering process.

    It would help to strengthen mutual confidence among politicians and to encourage peaceful resolution of all election- related disputes with utmost regard to the rule of law and the due process, “he said.

    The atmosphere in the state is quite intense as agitated supporters have taken to the streets to protest.

    The protesters, which comprise mostly women, had registered their displeasure with the recent court order from Abuja.

    They remained defiant, pouring into the streets and venting their anger over the court decision.

    They were seen on Wednesday on the streets carrying placards with diverse inscriptions and chanting solidarity songs.

  • ‘Revoke Buratai’s entry visa for election violence’

    A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank, has asked the United State of America, United Kingdom and the European Union (EU), to honour their promises and impose visa ban on the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai and others for the involvement of the military in the just concluded general elections.

    Frank, in a petition dated 19th March, 2019 but made available to newsmen in Abuja reminded the international community of his earlier warning about “the impending danger in the plot by the APC led government to use the military and other security apparatus to rig the 2019 general elections and to perpetrate violence which is likely to lead to the killing of innocent electorates.

    “He reminded that of their promises to impose travel ban on anyone involved in electoral violence saying this was the time to fulfill such promises.

    He said “I hereby use this medium to implore you and your good offices to ensure that justice is done. In the circumstances, I enjoin you to carry out your promise of the denial, revocation and ban of visas for all the principal actors, including the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai and his cohorts and politicians who may be complacent in the said dastardly act.

    “The petition titled “The illegal use of the military to perpetrate violence and to disrupt electoral processes in Nigeria: a call for action” reads in party “You may recall that shortly before the 2019 General presidential, National Assembly and governorship elections in Nigeria, I wrote to your good offices to alert you on the impending danger in the plot by the APC led government to use the military and other security apparatus to rig the 2019 general elections and to perpetrate violence which is likely to lead to the killing of innocent electorates.

    “Most predictably, that was exactly what played out in the just  concluded 2019 General  elections in some states in Nigeria where the Nigerian Army deployed military operatives to carry out nefarious activities during the elections in favour of the ruling party even when our  Courts in Nigeria  have long  before 2019 general elections held that the military shall not be deployed anywhere in Nigeria under any guise to monitor elections which is purely a civil exercise of one’s civic right and responsibility.

    “In trying to dent and taint my public image, the Nigeria military under the leadership of General Tukur Buratai, labeled me as a propagandist of fake news in print and social media a few days ago to disparage my hard earned reputation in the eye of the general Public.

    READ ALSO: INEC ordered supplementary election unnecessary, says Timi Frank

    “However, it is worthy of note that I have been vindicated by several reports released by different groups that monitored the elections.

    “For instance, The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Nigeria faulted the intimidation of voters and election observers by security agents especially in the governorship and House of Assembly Elections. The EU EOM further condemned the violence and intimidation against the citizens and election observers by the military and security agents, including the EU observers who were denied access to collation centers especially in Rivers.

    “Another report worthy of note is that of The Joint report by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republic Institute (IRI) released on the 9th of March, 2019 as regards the governorship elections where it condemned the heavy military presence in some parts of the country. It was stated that incidents of violence and disruptions to the balloting process were observed in Lagos, Benue, Nasarawa and Rivers state. The mission further frowned at the impunity with which some electoral actors conducted themselves, including some polling agents and members of the military.

    “The executive director of Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) also alleged that military chased observers and some party agents out of the collation centers in some states.

    “INEC on its parts just released a report on the Rivers State of Nigeria governorship elections where the said INEC categorically accused the Nigeria military of being complacent with regards to the unprofessional role they played in the conduct of the said general elections. It was stated that soldiers and armed gangs invaded collation centers to disrupt the collation process in order to thwart the Will of the people which they rightly did.”

  • 20 parties to INEC: withhold Iheodioha’s Certificate of Return

    Twenty political parties on Wednesday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withhold the Certificate of Return of the Imo state governor-elect Emeka Ihedioha.

    They strongly contended the declaration Ihedioha, who was the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate as governor-elect, was not in tandem with the provisions of Constitution.

    At a press conference in Owerri, the state capital, the governorship candidate of Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), Jerry Iheanacho, who spoke on behalf of others, said they had individually decided to challenge the outcome of the governorship election at the election Petitions Tribunal.

    Iheanacho noted that the declaration of Ihedioha as the winner of the election was “a rape of our Constitution”.

    The governorship candidate said: “It is not about Ihedioha but it is about what the Constitution says. From the results as announced by INEC, the PDP candidate didn’t meet the constitutional requirement to have been declared the governor elect.

    “He did not get the needed spread and we have decided to pursue this injustice up to the Supreme Court.

    “He did not get the required 25 percent of two-third of the LGAs.”

    Chinedu Ukadike of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) said the declaration of Ihedioha as the governor-elect was in contrast with the electoral guidelines presented to them by INEC.

    He vowed to petition the electoral umpire at the Tribunal even as he alleged that the declaration of a governor elect was done to undermine the constitution.

  • Court declines request to restrain INEC from announcing Rivers results

    A Federal High Court in Abuja declined on Wednesday, the request by the African Action Congress (AAC) for an order of interim injunction restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from among others, announcing winners of the last governorship and State Assembly elections in Rivers State.

    Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo ordered plaintiffs’ lawyer, Tawo Tawo (SAN) to put the defendants on notice, shortly after the lawyer spoke about the ex-parte motion filed by his client.

    The motion ex-parte was filed along with an originating summons marked: FHC/ ABJ/CS/303/2019, with AAC, Engr Biokpomabo Festus Awara and Pastor (Dr.) Ben-Gurion John Peter as plaintiffs.

    INEC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) were listed as respondents in the motion which was filed on March 18 this year.

    At the mention of the case on Wednesday, Justice Ekwo drew the attention of plaintiffs’ lawyer to some media reports, to the effect that a Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained INEC in relation to the Rivers election.

    In response, Tawo denied knowledge of the publication, including a Justice Ewa mention in the reports. He urged the court to ignore it.

    Shortly after, Tawo informed the court about the pending ex-parte motion filed by has clients, which the judge declined.

    Justice Ekwo, after listening to the plaintiffs’ lawyer, declined to grant the prayers contained in the motion ex-parte.

    Instead, the judge ordered that the respondents be served with the motion and other process in the suit. He adjourned to March 25 for hearing.

    The plaintiffs had, in the motion ex-parte, prayed the court for “an order directing a departure from the Rules of this honourable court for the abridgment oi time for the respondents to enter appearance and file their defence within seven days from the date of service of the originating processes on them”.

    They and also prayed for “an order of interim injunction of this honourable court restraining the 1st respondent (INEC) from further action in any manner whatsoever including the counting/coalition of votes, declaration and return of any candidate in the gubernatorial and Houses of Assembly election of 9th March, 2019 in Rivers State pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    The plaintiffs identified the grounds for their motion to include that “INEC had earlier admitted that the election in Rivers State was marred with substantial violence that compromised the credibility of the entire process thereby suspending the election.

    “Without calling for a fresh election, the 1st respondent has announced, via a press release, that it is now set to continue with the election from this Wednesday, 20th March 20 19.

    “Time is of the essence, therefore the need for abridgment of time within which the parties are to file their processes.”

    The plaintiffs are in the substantive suit, querying the propriety of INEC’s handling of the last governorship and State Assembly election in Rivers State, particularly as it relates to its announcement of the results.

  • We’ll abide by court ruling on Adamawa guber rerun – INEC

    The supplementary governorship election scheduled for March 23 in states where the March 9 governorship election was declared inclusive may not hold in Adamawa.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) gave this indication in Yola Wednesday when it said it would abide by a ruling of the Adamawa State high court expected on Thursday, March 21.

    The Court had last week granted an injunction stopping the supplementary election but fixed March 21 for hearing of motion for the interlocutory injunction.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa State, Kassim Gaidam, said at a press briefing Thursday afternoon that although INEC had made preparation for the supplementary governorship election, the conduct of it would depend on the outcome of the court process on Thursday.

    “As a law abiding institution, we will respect the ruling of the court on the supplementary election,” he said, adding however that the commission had assembled a body of lawyers headed by a senior advocate of Nigeria to push the position of the commission on the subject of the case.

    INEC had earlier said it would not be subjected to a court process over the scheduled supplementary governorship election, which made Gaidam’s articulation of INEC’s new position surprising to many.

    A Yola High Court on March 14 restrained INEC from conducting the March 23 supplementary governorship election in Adamawa.

    The ruling by Justice Abdul-Aziz Waziri followed a request to that effect filed by counsel to the Adamawa Chapter of the Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD), Mustafa Shaba, over absence of the party logo on the ballot paper of the inconclusive election.

    Delivering the rulinG, Justice Waziri, held that the request had merit. “The defendant herein, INEC, is restrained … from proceeding with the supplementary election in respect of Adamawa State Governorship pending the hearing and determination, which now comes up Thursday, March 21

  • PDP rejects order stopping final collation of Bauchi election result

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected a court order stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from resuming collation of result of Bauchi state governorship election.

    The party stated this in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan on Tuesday in Abuja.

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday barred INEC from resuming collation and announcement of the election result.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the order following an ex parte application filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi state.

    Ologbondiyan described the order as part of the plot by the APC and “some compromised elements” in INEC to escalate crisis and derail the country’s electoral process.

    “The power to collate, suspend collation and or to reverse such decision based on obvious circumstances as the case in Bauchi is clearly within the domain of INEC.

    “Until collation is completed and results declared, no one can question the constitutional powers of the electoral body- INEC, in that regard,” he said.

    Ologbondiyan cautioned that if what it described as desperate underhand measure to halt electoral processes is not checked, the country’s hard-earned democracy would fail.

    “Our party should not be pushed into a situation in which we will have no option than to allow our members to seek similar exparte orders to halt statutory processes at various levels.

    “It is clear that collation of result is part of the electoral process and that INEC cannot act on a purported exparte order to jettison its independence and halt the collation of results, which is a key component of its statutory electoral duty.

    “Section 87 (10) of the Electoral Act is unambiguous in its prescription that “nothing in this section shall empower the courts to stop the holding of primaries or general election or the processes thereof under this Act pending the determination of a suit,” he said.

    Ologbondiyan urged INEC to be properly guided by the law in that regard.

    “Nigerians have elected the PDP in Bauchi state and nothing can change this reality,” he said.