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Tag: Inec

  • Polls: SDP sues INEC, Ekwunife over wrongful exclusion

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its senatorial candidate for the Anambra Central zone in the Feb 23 election, Chief Tony Chukwuelue have approached the National Assembly Election Petitions tribunal in Awka with a petition seeking to nullify the exercise in the zone.

    The party sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sen. Uche Ekwunife and her party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), seeking for a fresh election to be conducted in the zone where his name and party logo shall be included in the ballot papers.

    Addressing newsmen in his Abatete country home, Idemili North council area of the state, Chukwuelue decried his wrongfully exclusion from the poll without any reason, saying he had already put the electoral umpire on judicial notice.

    READ ALSO: Live updates: Anambra governorship election results

    “My name and party logo were inexplicably removed from the ballot papers for the Feb 23, 2019 election, which threw my teeming supporters who trooped out to cast their votes to me into confusion on the voting day,” he said.

    Describing the experience as harrowing, Chukwuelue lamented that the situation has extensively eroded his name, image and public standing.

    He said, “Many of my supporters were erroneously informed that I sold my opportunity to some other candidate.

    “Those that masterminded the wrongful removal of my name from the ballot were clearly afraid of my burgeoning political popularity ahead the exercise in the area.

    “I have hired a team of lawyers who had put together all the necessary documents and filed the petition waiting to take off proceedings.”

  • Cross River: APC alleges killing of members

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State has alleged the killing of several of its members, who refused to be compromised, during the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections by agents of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led state government.

    The party, which made the accusation in a statement by its acting chairman, Sir John Ochala, rejected the results of the election, which saw the PDP emerge winners.

    The statement, made available to The Nation in Calabar read, “The All Progressives Congress Cross River State hereby informs the General Public that we dissociate ourselves from this rape of democracy in the name of Governorship and State House of Assembly  Elections.

    We are all witnesses to the day light robbery of our collective will and mandate, led by the PDP state government in active connivance with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security operatives.

    Despite the very responsible manner in which our teeming party faithful and supporters went about their civic responsibility, the PDP in desperation to perpetuate their evil agenda killed several of our members who refused to compromise and resisted the vote stuffing carried out by the PDP.

    READ ALSO: Confusion over judgment on Cross River APC

    “We call on all APC members and well-wishers to remain calm and go about their lawful duties without let or hindrance while the party leadership explores all avenues within legal limits to correct this aberration.”

    Also addressing reporters in Calabar, the governorship candidate of the Young Democratic Party (YDP), Emmanuel Undie, rejected the results saying there were no elections in the state.

    Undie accused the security agencies and INEC of colluding with agents of the PDP to rig the elections.

    He vowed to pursue all constitutional means to ensure the exercise is cancelled.

    “There were no elections in Cross River State. It was not free and fair, a lot of people were disenfranchised and there was no safety and security for the people. I personally saw SUVs filled with thugs with automatic weapons moving freely with government number plate numbers.

    “We witnessed carting away materials by thugs, multiple thumb printing. There were also swapping of result sheets; hence whatever happened in the field was an exercise in futility. People only went out to waste their time. The police, supposed to protect law abiding citizens, were aiding thugs against the citizens. The results were cooked up,” he alleged.

  • Court injunction endangers Adamawa supplementary gov’ship election

    In Adamawa State, preparation for the March 23 supplementary governorship election is beclouded by a court injunction restraining INEC from conducting it.

    To start with, both the APC and PDP had issues with either the conduct of the main election or the status of its outcome.

    The PDP was faulting INEC for asserting that the margin of lead by its candidate, Umaru Fintiri, was less than number of registered voters where voting was cancelled. It was asking INEC to instead declare its candidate winner of that election because his margin of  lead was higher than number  of voters  with PVCs in the polling units where voting was cancelled.

    The party was nonetheless willing to participate in the supplementary election on INECs insistence in conducting it, moreso as it felt sure it would win the rerun to consolidate its lead in the main election.

    The APC was on the other hand reluctant, complaining of irregularities in the conduct of the main election and asking that voting in more units during the main election be cancelled because of such irregularities.

    While the parties were at such varying levels of acceptance of the main election and the proposed rerun, a court verdict came to light Thursday morning, asking INEC to pause activities leading to its conduct of the rerun.

    A Yola high Court judge, Justice Abdul-Aziz Waziri, had given the ruling in a suit filed by the governorship candidate of the Movement for Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD), Rev Eric Theman. The judge said, “The defendant herein, INEC, is restrained … from proceeding with the supplementary election in respect of Adamawa State governorship pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

    The judge then adjourned the case to March 21, two days to the scheduled rerun, for hearing of motion for the interlocutory injunction.

    Read Also: Adamawa Assembly results: APC, PDP get 11 seats each

    So, as the other states where supplementary governorship election has been scheduled are preparing for it, in Adamawa the focus right now is the court injunction.

    The APC welcomes the injunction. The secretary of the party, Hon Wafarninyi Theman, told The Nation in an interview: “From what I have seen, the complainant has a genuine case, except INEC comes out to tell us that this party was not cleared for the election. But it’s a legitimate party and it had a legitimate candidate to contest in the election. And if they didn’t find the logo of their party on the ballot paper, it means they were deprived of the chance to be be voted for. So, I think INEC should have admitted in the first place that they made a mistake. However, we are waiting for the response of INEC.”

    The PDP thinks very differently. The state chairman of the PDP, Bar Tahir Shehu who spoke on the matter, said the injunction was in the first place a nonstarter and would be overturned.

    Shehu said, “We do know that by the provisions of the Electoral Act, no court of law can stop the process of election. So the purported order is invalid. INEC is not bound to comply with it… The law says no court can stop either primary, general or supplementary election. Notwithstanding, we are taking steps to get that order set aside.”

    So, the engagement by both the APC and PDP in Adamawa State now is not how to win maximum votes in the supplementary election but how it might be scuttled or allowed to hold.

     

  • INEC weighs four options on Rivers polls today

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the African Action Congress (AAC), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other parties will today know their fate on the stalemated governorship poll in Rivers State.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC)  has summoned a meeting of its management to receive and consider the report of a fact-finding team it sent to the Southsouth state.

    The electoral body may receive also the report on its investigation into the disruption of the poll in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

    But top on the list of issues before INEC, as at last night, is the suspended election in Rivers State.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The panel on Rivers State will on Friday submit its report to INEC management. Thereafter, the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and his team will consider the findings and make a pronouncement.

    “We are aware of the interest which the suspension of the elections in Rivers State has generated and we want to resolve it as soon as possible.”

    There are four options before INEC, The Nation has learnt. They are:

    • whether or not to cancel the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State;
    • Restricted conduct of elections only in units, wards or areas affected by violence.
    • Announcement of collated or retrieved  results if the security situation does not permit a fresh poll;
    • declaring the results as it were and leaving the aggrieved to go to the tribunal.

    According to the source, any delay in taking a decision may lead to a constitutional crisis in the state.

    “INEC will be fair, just, equitable and it will be guided by the Electoral Act, 2010( as amended) in its decision on Rivers State.

    “The panel has concluded its assignment. Were it not for the issuance of Certificates of Return to senators and Representatives-elect, we would have considered the report on Rivers on Thursday (yesterday).”

    A statement last Sunday by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, said: “The commission has decided to suspend all electoral processes in Rivers State until further notice.

    “This is in line with Section 26  of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and Clause 47(e) of the regulations and guidelines of the commission.”

    As at press time, it was gathered that the team which investigated the disruption of the collation and cancellation of results in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State had concluded its assignment.

    “We will look at the findings of this committee to guide the conduct of supplementary elections in the state on March 23,” the source said.

    The two leading parties  – APC and PDP – have started preparations for the make-up poll ordered in six states on March 23.

    The national leadership of the PDP said yesterday that the party was set for the supplementary poll in states where the elections  were declared inconclusive.

    The states are: Kano, Bauchi, Benue, Sokoto, Adamawa and Plateau.

    Rising from an emergency National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja yesterday, the party should demanded that INEC release the results of the elections in those states and make returns as appropriate.

    In a statement after the emergency meeting, PDP spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan insisted that the party was in clear lead in the states where the poll was declared inconclusive.

    He accused INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu of bias, citing “the results of the governorship election in Ogun State where the APC candidate was declared winner even when the margin of lead between him and the runner up was lower than the number of cancelled votes”.

    The main opposition party regretted that INEC denied victory for PDP governorship candidates who found themselves in similar circumstances in the affected states.

    The statement reads: “The PDP found it strange that INEC can have two sets of rules in the same election for the various political parties.

    “More worrisome is the resolution which arose from a meeting between some governors of the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari, where the PDP has been informed that a decision was taken to seize Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Plateau, Sokoto and Kano states in the March 23 scheduled supplementary election.”

    The PDP said it had deliberated and interfaced with stakeholders from the various states where governorship supplementary elections have been scheduled to hold.

    It added that following the deliberations, the party had mandated all its members to resist any attempt by anybody to tamper with the will of the people in their states.

    The PDP said it was sure of victory in the affected states.

    KANO

    In Kano, a non-governmental organisation under the auspices of Kano State Civil Society Situation Room has filed a petition against the government over alleged attempt to buy votes ahead of the March 23 poll.

    The co-convener of the petition comrade Abdulrazaq Alkali told reporters shortly after submitting the petition to the zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Kano, that his group was aware of the anti-graft agency’s efforts at curbing vote buying.

    Alkali explained that the petition was filed to draw EFCC’s attention to alleged withdrawal from the state’s treasury.

    He urged the commission to investigate his group’s allegation.

    The Commissioner for Local Government, Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo, described the petition as baseless.

    Garo explained that the money withdrawn by the government was released to 13 councils out of which five were not among the local governments where the extra polls will take place.

    “The funds released on the 12th of March were meant for executing government developmental projects,” the commissioner explained.

    BENUE

    Ahead of the make-up poll, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Council has called for more security personnel to curtail violence.

    The council said: “From reports available, there is a plan to disrupt the re-run, especially in APC strongholds.”

    The council’s spokesman, Chief Terlumun Akputu, told reporters in Makurdi that security should be strengthened to stamp out vote buying and intimidation.

    Akputu advised INEC to insist on the use of the Electronic Card Readers (ECRs) before accepting any result from polling units.

    “There is where in Nigeria that APC recorded zero votes, except In Guma Local Government Area despite having candidates and agents which he said were chased out of the polling units,” the council said.

    BAUCHI

    The Katagum Youth for Change (KYC) yesterday cautioned House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara against creating a crisis in the state.

    It urged the Speaker and the PDP to stop misleading Nigerians on the political situation in the state.

    KYC Chairman Mustapha Aleh spoke in Abuja against the backdrop of the eruption of violence in Bauchi after the governorship poll was declared inconclusive.

    He said: “It is obvious that Bauchi erupted into violence after a briefing by the Speaker and PDP leaders in the state.

    “We wish to warn Dogara and PDP against introducing a dangerous dimension to the politics of the state because of the desperation to make a cheap political point.

    “The impression of lack of perfornance by Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar that Dogara and his gang of PDP desperados try to create is false, unfounded and should be disregarded.”

     

  • Optimism as INEC gives out certificates of return

    Senate leadership, individual senator-elect’s plans and others dominated discourse yesterday as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued lawmakers-elect certificates of return, report Onyedi Ojiabor and Abdulgafar Alabelewe.

    I’ll perform far better than

    araki, says Oloriegbe

     

    Senator-elect for Kwara Central Dr Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe yesterday declared that he would perform better than Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    Saraki, the Senator representing Kwara Central, has represented the Senatorial District since 2011.

    He spoke in Abuja alongside two other Senators-elect from Kwara State after collecting his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He said Saraki did not set any standard of performance for any successor to study.

    Oloriegbe said: “It is God that gives and takes power from whosoever He wishes. I thank the Almighty Allah for granting me the grace of being overwhelmingly elected as Senator for Kwara Central in the coming 9th Senate.

    “I have the pedigree of service to people and humanity as a trained medical doctor who has spent decades working with World Health Organization (WHO) and years on the political field also in rendering selfless service to people and humanity.

    “I was the majority leader of Kwara State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2003 under the late Governor Muhammed Alabi Lawal.

    “My focus in the Senate will squarely be on how to through legislative engineering, quality and responsive representation,  improve the lots of my people in Kwara Central and  collaborate very effectively along with other federal lawmakers from the state with the State Governor-elect, Abdulrahaman Abdulrazaq in giving the state a new direction with regards to wealth creation and genuine development.

    “The responsive representation I will put up for Kwara Central people within the next four years coupled with the required legislative engagements to be made on both the floor and at committee level for good governance in the country , will surpass whatever performance Saraki had rendered in the past.”

    The Kwara South Senator-elect, Lola Ashiru, assured that the new set of elected political office holders in Kwara State would collaborate to give the greatest good to the greatest number of Kwarans.

    Ashiru said: “We are aware of the expectations on the ground and enormous challenges at hand but as people who are out to serve and not lord it over the electorate, Kwara will surely be better off with the change that had taken place in the state.”

    The Senator-elect for Kwara North, Umar Sadiq, said he had the strong conviction that marginalisation that had been the lot of his area in the past would be a thing of the past.

     

    Gaya eyes Ekweremadu’s seat

     

    The Senator representing Kano South, Kabiru Gaye, is interested in becoming Deputy Senate President.

    Gaya, a sitting Senator and Chairman Senate Committee on Works, told reporters about his intention to go for the Senate top job yesterday after collecting his certificate of return as Senator-elect for Kano South.

    The post is occupied by Senator Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu, PDP).

    He told reporters at the International Conference Center, Abuja venue of the issuance of the certificate of return to Senators-elect that his aspiration was driven by mass appeal for him to go for the job by his colleagues.

    He has been returned to the upper chamber for the fourth time unbroken.

    Gaya said: “I thank the Almighty Allah who granted me the grace of being elected into the Senate for the fourth time.

    “As regards the leadership composition of the 9th Senate, majority of my colleagues are mounting pressure on me to run for the position of Deputy Senate President. I want to use this opportunity to announce that I’m running for the position being one of the most ranking Senators in the 9th Senate.”

    He however gave a caveat that his ambition for the exalted position will be subject to the determination and approval of the All Progressives Congress and the presidency.

    The aspiration of Gaya, who hails from the North West geo-political zone, may alter the permutations being made for the Senate leadership positions.

    If Gaya emerges Deputy Senate President, it may be difficult to also retain the Senate Presidency in the North.

    Front runners for the position of Senate Presidency of the ninth Senate include Senators Ahmed Lawan (APC Yobe North), Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC Borno South) and Mohammed Danjuma Goje (APC Gombe Central) and Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West).

    Of the four front liners, Lawan looks good to get the Senate top most position going by his track records and standing in the APC.

    The Senate leadership race is, however, very much open as other Senators are said to be warming up to take a shot at the position.

    Senator-elect Adedayo Adeyeye (APC Ekiti South) noted that to avoid the leadership crisis that overwhelmed the 8th Senate, the APC national leadership should provide the required direction for the majority party in the Senate to follow.

    Another Senator-elect Bamidele Opeyemi (APC Ekiti Central) was sure that the APC leadership would effectively manage the process for effective leadership of the ninth Senate.

    He said: “The calibre and character of personalities elected for the 9th Senate are very solid and promising for the country but leadership is key. This very reason why the leadership of the ruling party must manage well, whatever process, it is going to use for the emergence of leadership at both chambers this time around.

    “Once this is done, the party and in particular, the National Assembly and the presidency will be on the same page on development-driven bills sponsorship, policy formulations and approvals.”

    Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC Niger North) said the necessary lessons had been learnt from the leadership tussle in the 8th Senate.

    Abdullahi was optimistic that the loose ends in the leadership selection process of the ninth Senate would be tightened by the APC leadership.

    He said: “I was a key player in the leadership configuration of the 8th Senate and the attendant crises that followed. As one of the 43 returnees, the lessons learnt will be used to prevent the mistakes of the past from happening.”

     

    We will not fail Kaduna people,

    says senator-elect

     

    The Senator-elect for Kaduna Central senatorial District, Uba Sani, has said the elected representatives of Kaduna State are “bound by their love for the people of the state” to succeed in their responsibilities.

    He assured that the lawmakers will not fail the people of Kaduna in their legislative assignment.

    In a statement after he was issued with certificate of returns by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja, Uba said with the crop of representatives the state has produced, the people of the state are poised to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

    He said: “Today, the great quest to place the good people of Kaduna Central Senatorial zone in pole position to reap bountifully from the next level of massive infrastructural, economic, social and agricultural development of the re-elected and re-energized APC government at the federal level and in Kaduna State, commenced effectively with my issuance of certificate of return by INEC.

    “I truly appreciate the youths, women, elders and other residents of Kaduna Central Senatorial zone who believe so much in me and showed it most audaciously with their huge votes at the polls. I shall remain eternally grateful. Like I have said repeatedly, I shall not fail you.

    “My biggest thanks however goes to my boss, close confidante and governor of our  State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.  We are bound by our common love for Kaduna State and our love for our long suffering people.

    “As a Senator in the 9th Senate of our great nation, I shall do all that is within my competences and powers to ensure that our collective dream and aspiration of a peaceful, investment friendly and economically buoyant Kaduna State is speedily achieved.

    “My loyalty to our party and our great leader, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, shall be unalloyed and unflinching. With like-minds and fellow party men, we shall build a bulwark of support for the President and his administration in the Senate,  Insha Allah.

    “I am truly honoured and I shall not take the huge responsibilities reposed in me by the people for granted. I am very conscious of the fact that I cannot afford to fail. God helping me, I will not fail.”

  • Breaking: Tribunal to rule on Buhari, APC requests to inspect election materials

    The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) is about to deliver ruling on two motions by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate in the last presidential election, Muhammadu Buhari.

    APC and Buhari are asking the tribunal to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow them access to materials used for the election, inspect same and obtain certified true copies of the materials.

    The tribunal took arguments from lawyers to APC and Buhari and rose to write its ruling.

    Details shortly….

  • Adamawa Assembly results: APC, PDP get 11 seats each

    The governing All Progressives Congress ( APC ) and main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have each won 11 seats of the 23 constituency results that have been released.

    The result sheet containing names and political parties of the 23 elected members, which was obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday, indicated that the African Democratic Party (ADC) won one seat.

    Supplementary election will be conducted in two constituencies: Uba/Gaya and Nassarawo/Binyeri state constituencies where election did not take place last Saturday.

    Election was put off in Nasarawo/Biyeri state constituency because a candidate entered for the election died just before it, while certain issues surrounding election in Uba/Gaya constituency is yet to be cleared.

    Read Also: Adamawa APC rejects inconclusive governorship election

    The outcome of the House of Assembly election as contained in the result sheet issued by INEC, showing the constituencies, elected members and their respective parties, is as follows:

    1. Demsa: Raymond Kate PDP
    2. Fufore Gurin: Shuaibu Babas APC
    3. Fufore Verre: Abdullahi Yapak APC
    4. Ganye: Alhassan Hamman Joda APC
    5. Girei: Mohammed Mutawalli APC
    6. Gombi: Kefas Japhet PDP
    7. Guyuk: Dinglok Adawa PDP
    8. Uba/Gaya (supplementary election)
    9. Hong: Wesley Barhiya PDP
    10. Leko/Koma: Abdullahi Ahmadu PDP
    11. Jada/Mbulo: Yuttisori H/Tukur PDP
    12. Lamurde: Myandasa Bauna PDP
    13. Madagali: Haruna Jikan Tikiri PDP
    14. Maiha: Isa Yahaya APC
    15. Binyeri (supplementary election)
    16. Mayo Belwa: Ibrahim Musa ADC
    17. Michika: Kwada Joseph Ayuba PDP
    18. Mubi North: Shuaibu Musa APC
    19. Numan: Mackondo Keno PDP
    20. Shelleng: Abubakar Isa APC
    21. Song: Simon Isa PDP
    22. Toungo: Abdullahi Umar
    23. Yola North: Sajo Hamidu PDP
    24 Yola South: Kabir Mijinyawa APC
    25 Mubi South: Musa Bororo APC

  • Photos: INEC presents certificates of return to elected NASS members

     

    Senator-elect representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Mr Uba Sani of APC (L) and his counterpart from Kaduna North, Alhaji Suleiman Abdu-Kwari (APC), during the presentation of Certificates of Return to elected members of the National Assembly, in Abuja on Thursday
    From left: Elected Senators from Osun, Sen. Adelere Oriolowo (APC); Fadahunsi Adenigba (PDP); and Surajudeen Basiru (APC), during the presentation of Certificates of Return to elected members of the National Assembly, in Abuja on Thursday
    From left: Elected Senators from Cross River, Sen. Gershom Bassey (PDP), Sen. Rose Oko (PDP) and Sen. Onor Ojang (PDP), during the presentation of Certificates of Return to elected members of the National Assembly, in Abuja on Thursday
    From left: INEC National Commissioners, Hajiya Amina Zakari, Malam Mohammed Haruna, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and another National Commissioner, Dr Mustapha Lecky, during the presentation of Certificates of Return to elected members of the National Assembly, in Abuja on Thursday

  • INEC issues Certificates of Return to senators-elect

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has urged Senators-elect to commence and conclude work on the review of the electoral legal framework early, ahead of the 2023 General Elections.

    INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the call on Thursday at a ceremony for the Issuance of Certificate of Return to Senators-elect at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

    Yakubu said that late conclusion of the review of the electoral law would affect the commission’s implementation of the framework.

    He said that as a matter of urgency, the commission would begin work on post 2019 elections review and road map to 2023.

    “There is a lot of work but very little time available. As a process governed by law, the success of election in Nigeria depends to a large extent on the electoral legal framework and most importantly, in ensuring adherence to the law.

    “I want to assure you that we will continue to work with the National Assembly to review and strengthen our Electoral Law.

    “But I want to appeal to the Senators-elect to please start work early and conclude work on the electoral framework in good time well ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    Read Also: Okorocha missing as senators-elect receive certificates of return

    “The tendency to delay electoral reform, particularly the review of the electoral framework, until it is too close to the elections, leaves the commission with little time to develop processes including regulations and guidelines, make required consultation with stakeholders, embark on effective voter education including sensitisation, train staff and organise deployment for the elections.

    “I am glad that among the senators-elect are senators that we have worked very closely with and some of them have taken initiative or even sponsoring private member bills to advance the cause of electoral reform,” he said.

    The chairman said that the commission looked forward to working very closely with the senators-elect in deepening the country’s electoral process.

    He congratulated the lawmakers for their election victory to serve the nation.

    Among those issued the certificate of return are: Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, Enugu West (PDP); Mohammed Sabo, Jigawa South West (APC); Philip Aduda, FCT(PDP) and Sen. Dino Malaiye Kogi West (PDP).

    Others are: Baba Kaita, Kastina North (APC); Omo-Agege Ovie Delta Central(APC); Ibrahim Gandam, Yobe North (APC); Abdul’Aziz Yari Zamfara North (APC); Kaura Yahaya, Zamfara West(APC) and Ifeanyi Uba, Anambra South (YPP).

    The issueance of Certificate of return to the members of the House of Representatives will commence at 2 p.m

  • Igini: My accusers wanted to buy me over

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom, Mike Igini, has finally opened up on allegations against him in the conduct of the February 23 and March 9 elections.

    Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state have accused him of colluding with Governor Udom Emmanuel to rig the elections in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    But Igini, in a telephone interview with the Nation in Uyo on Wednesday evening, said his accusers were the very people who tried unsuccessfully to buy him over.

    He alleged they induced him to compromise his integrity and constitutional responsibility to superintend over a free and fair electoral process.

    Though he did not mention names of those who tried to lure him into shifting grounds on the elections, he revealed he was invited by some politicians to a secret meeting abroad, which he declined.

    ”The very people who wanted me to compromise are those who are accusing me.

    “Those who wanted me to travel abroad to hold a secret meeting with and them and I said no.

    ”I said why do you want to go abroad and discuss the affairs of an electoral process outside Nigeria?

    “Why do you want me to enter aero plane and go to where? If you want to have a meeting with me, come to my office.

    ”Since I have been in this state, anybody who says he has given me pure water(sachet water) let him or her come forward and say so.

    “All those who contested the elections whether in PDP or APC or any party I don’t know them other than their lists of the names.

    ”As I speak to you, I don’t have their contacts, even those who won. If I see them on the way, I won’t recognise them,” Igini said.

    The Akwa Ibom REC said some politicians in the state have refused to come to terms with the fact that the old tradition of writing fictitious results was over.

    He added that since 1999 no genuine elections have been conducted in the state until the one under his watch.

    ”In Akwa Ibom, apart from 1999 they have not been delivering ballot papers results sheets to polling units.

    “They have been writing results in Akwa Ibom state. There were no genuine elections in the state and I said there has to be a paradigm shift to the side of the will of the people,” he said.

    Spokesperson APC campaigns in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Eseme Eyiboh who reacted to the allegations, challenged Igini to mention names of his accusers who tried to compromise him as well as the country he was invited to for a secret meeting.

    ”The principle of law is very clear that whoever alleges should prove. If he has made such an allegation, then he has to prove just like the APC has made allegations against him.

    ”APC has substantially proven that how can a political party become your image manager.

    “Look at the Vanguard newspaper of 28 January, page 39. Chieftains of the PDP paid for an advertorial threatening the INEC chairman not to redeploy Igini. Are they his employers?

    ”We have also told you that he(Igini) had a meeting with civil society forum, which he told them clearly and it is on record that under his watch APC can’t go anywhere in Akwa Ibom,” he said.