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Tag: Mahmood Yakubu

  • Internal party democracy key to credible elections – INEC chairman 

    Internal party democracy key to credible elections – INEC chairman 

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has emphasized that internal party democracy is the foundation of credible general elections. 

    Speaking through the national commissioner in charge of Political Parties and Election Monitoring, Sam Olumekun, at the launch of a book on 100 years of political parties in Nigeria, Prof. Yakubu stated that effective leadership recruitment is only possible when capable individuals are selected through transparent and duly conducted party primaries. 

    He stressed that when political parties uphold democratic principles in their internal processes, it enhances public confidence in the electoral system and strengthens democratic governance. 

    “Unfortunately, we have witnessed instances where a lack of internal democracy has led to disputes, litigations, and disruptions in the electoral process. It is therefore imperative that political parties remain committed to transparent, fair, and credible primaries,” he said. 

    “As we move towards future elections, I urge all political parties to strengthen their internal governance mechanisms and ensure that their processes reflect the will of their members.

    “A democratic society begins with democratic political parties. Political parties must invest in building strong and law-abiding institutions with distinct ideological leanings, rather than installing behemoths,” Yakubu added. 

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    The INEC Chairman also called for holistic electoral reform in Nigeria, noting that democracy is a continuous process of improvement.

    “No democracy is perfect; it is a continuous journey of reform and improvement. As an electoral management body, INEC is committed to ensuring that our electoral processes remain credible, transparent, and inclusive,” he concluded.

    “However, certain areas of our electoral framework require urgent reforms to enhance the integrity of our elections and address emerging challenges. To this end, the Commission is already in consultation with the National Assembly Committee on Electoral Matters to organize a retreat where areas requiring urgent reforms will be deliberated upon.

    “We recognize that electoral reforms are not the sole responsibility of INEC or the National Assembly alone. Political parties, civil society organizations, and all well-meaning Nigerians must actively support and advocate for necessary legislative amendments that will strengthen our democracy and make it much more inclusive.

    “I, therefore, challenge IPAC and all political actors here today to champion these reforms, advocate for laws that enhance the credibility of our elections, and work collectively towards an electoral system that is fair, just, and representative”.

    While. Also calling for sustained engagement and collaboration with the commission, Prof. Yakubu said “As we reflect on a century of political party evolution in Nigeria, it is evident that more gains will be recorded in a milieu of strict adherence to provisions of the constitution, guidelines and regulations for political parties: active engagement, effective collaborative endeavours in areas such as conducting result-oriented voter education for increased citizen participation, promoting constructive dialogue, and the commitment of all electoral stakeholders to chart a course for values orientation.

    The INEC Chairman reminded the parties and Nigerians that no Nigerian can participate in any National, State, or Federal Capital Territory election in the country unless he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that party, adding that this underscores the importance and indispensability of political parties to the democratic system in the country.

    He described political parties as the oxygen of Nigeria’s political system, saying it is very important for political parties to conduct their activities in accordance/compliance with the Electoral legal framework – the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 202,2 and the INEC Regulations and Guidelines

    While saying that Political parties form the cornerstone of a democratic society and serve a function unlike any other institution in a democracy, he disclosed that the Commission has enjoyed a robust and mutually beneficial collaboration with IPAC,

    He said: “Parties aggregate and represent social interests and provide a structure for political participation. As the umbrella body for all registered political parties in Nigeria, IPAC has played a crucial role in fostering dialogue between political parties and the Commission, ensuring a more inclusive electoral process.

    “This partnership is committed to promoting adherence to democratic principles, improving election management, and strengthening our collective resolve to deepen democracy in Nigeria.

    “Our collaboration has yielded significant results in areas such as political party registration, election monitoring, and engendering capacity-building initiatives for political actors. Going forward, we must sustain and deepen this engagement to ensure that our democracy continues to evolve in line with international best practices.

    “As is currently constitutionally provided, candidates running for elective offices must do so under the sponsorship of duly registered political parties. Hence, they are the fulcrum of democratic governance in Nigeria.100 years is a very long time for political parties to have evolved into formidable democratic pillars.

    “A lot of responsibility lies with the political parties to ensure that electoral outcomes, ultimately reflect the aspiration of the people. To achieve this, there is the need for political parties to critically interrogate their conduct.”

    Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yusuf Mamman Dantalle said the book documents the political party landscape from 1923 to 2023, serving as a testament to the rich history, evolution, and resilience of political parties in Nigeria.

    According to him, it is a reflection of the trials and triumphs, the challenges and achievements that have shaped our political landscape over the past century.

    He paid tribute to the visionaries, the leaders, and the citizens who have contributed to the growth and development of our democracy, adding that the book will serve as a beacon of knowledge and insight, shedding light on the struggles and progress that have defined our political journey.

    He said: “As we embark on this journey through the pages of “100 Years of Political Party Evolution in Nigeria,” let us reflect on the lessons of the past, celebrate the milestones of the present, and chart a course for a future filled with unity, progress, and prosperity for all Nigerians.”

  • Court vacates contempt order against INEC boss Yakubu, ex-APGA Chair Ike-Oye

    Court vacates contempt order against INEC boss Yakubu, ex-APGA Chair Ike-Oye

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Bwari, Abuja, has vacated its earlier order convicting the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and the immediate past Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Victor Ike-Oye, for contempt.

    Justice Mohammed Madugu’s decision to vacate the order followed an application filed by Michael Ajara, the lawyer to the applicants – Otunba Camaru Ogidan and Alhaji Rabiu Mustapha – seeking the termination of the contempt proceedings against Yakubu and Ike-Oye.

    Justice Madugu had, on November 9, 2023, issued an order convicting Yakubu and Ike-Oye for contempt of court after finding that they failed to comply with the court’s order of May 10, 2023 directing them to recognise Chief Edozie Njoku as APGA’s National Chairman.

    On July 11, 2024, Yakubu’s lawyer, Ahmed Mohammed, told the court that his client had complied with the order and recognised Njoku as APGA’s National Chairman.

    But Ike-Oye failed to comply with the order. He instead appealed and applied for a stay of the lower court’s order, thereby stalling his planned sentencing, which the court later rescheduled for January 22.

    However, on November 27, 2024, the Supreme Court gave a judgment recognising another person, Sly Ezeokenwa, as APGA’s National Chairman.

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    At the mention of the case yesterday before Justice Madugu, Ajara told that court that based on the November 27, 2024 judgment of the Supreme Court on the issue, his clients had decided to discontinue the case.

    Following Ajara’s application, Justice Madugu discharged the earlier committal order and struck out the case.

    Explaining his clients’ position, Ajara said: “Our clients, being law-abiding, have since expressed their willingness to abide by the Supreme Court judgment on the issue.

    “So, they saw no reason to further pursue this case and instructed us to withdraw it, which we just did. The judge saw reasons in the steps we took and agreed with us.”

    Njoku, who was also in court along with some senior members of his new party – the National Rescue Movement (NRM) – hailed Justice Madugu for the manner he handled the case.

    Njoku, who formally assumed office on Tuesday as the National Chairman of the NRM, said: “The judge here showed rare courage under the current circumstances of Nigeria.

    “We are praying to God to be with him. If he did not show that courage, I could have been in jail.

    “We thank God that our case came before a judge who has conscience, integrity and can also show courage when necessary.”

  • Ondo 2024: We’ll improve on logistics, says INEC boss

    Ondo 2024: We’ll improve on logistics, says INEC boss

    The National Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has assured residents in Ondo State that the electoral body would improve on two major challenges of logistics and result management in next Saturday’s governorship election.

    Prof. Yakubu said polling units would open promptly on election day due to improved logistics.

    The INEC boss spoke to journalists on Monday during his visit to Akure for readiness assessment of preparations for the polls.

    Yakubu said he has received positive reports from the Akure INEC office.

    He also explained that he was in Akure to meet with the stakeholders including political parties, civil society organisations, the media security agencies and INEC officials.

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    He said, “One of the activities we are also going to observe is the mock accreditation of voters which will take place in 16 polling units across six local government areas in the three senatorial zones of the state.

    “In addition to other activities, we are also going to meet with the stakeholders on Thursday, and the following day, the National Peace Committee will also invite all the stakeholders for the signing of the National Peace Accord.

    “We have learnt a lot of lessons not only from the last election but also previous elections. Basically, there are two challenges, the first one is logistics for election, and the second one, is result management.

    “My assurance to voters in Ondo State is that they are going to see fast improvement in these two processes.”

    While at the state headquarters of the commission, the INEC Chairman inaugurated a newly built Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) storage facility stating that “this facility is an essential component in maintaining the integrity of our electoral process.”

  • Ondo polls: We will improve on logistics, says INEC boss

    Ondo polls: We will improve on logistics, says INEC boss

    The National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu has assured residents in Ondo State that the electoral body would improve on two major challenges of logistics and result management in next Saturday’s governorship election.

    Yakubu said polling units would open promptly on election day due to improved logistics.

    The INEC boss spoke to journalists on Monday during his visit to Akure for assessment of preparations for the polls.

    Read Also: Ondo polls: Ajayi, Aiyedatiwa clash at debate

    Yakubu said he has received positive reports from the Akure INEC office.

    He explained that he was in Akure to meet with the stakeholders including political parties, civil society organisations, the media security agencies and INEC officials.

    He said: “One of the activities we are also going to observe is the mock accreditation of voters which will take place in 16 polling units across six local government areas in the three senatorial zones of the state.

    “We have learnt a lot of lessons not only from the last election but also previous elections. Basically, there are two challenges, the first one is logistics for election, so

    ”The second one is result management and my assurance to voters in Ondo State is that they are going to see fast improvement in these two processes.”

  • Why INEC is silent on Rivers Assembly crisis, by Yakubu

    Why INEC is silent on Rivers Assembly crisis, by Yakubu

    • Blackmailing Tinubu, Wike, Judiciary over LG allocation won’t help you, APC warns Fubara
    • Oko-Jumbo asks INEC to conduct bye-elections to replace Amaewhule, others

    The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Friday explained why the commission has not acted on the controversy trailing the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    This is coming as the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Sir Tony Okocha has also cautioned Governor Siminalayi Fubura to stop blackmailing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the judiciary over last Wednesday’s Federal High Court judgement restricting the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing allocation to the state.

    The leadership of the faction loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara wrote the commission to conduct a by-election to fill the position of the 25 members of the Assembly loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

    Some Nigerians also accused the commission of failing to act on the request by the lawmakers.

    Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting with the Media Executive at the Commission headquarters in Abuja, Prof Mahmood said it had not acted because of the several conflicting court judgements on the crisis in the Assembly.

    He also noted that as a result of the crisis and the conflicting judgements of courts both at the state and federal levels, the commission had also not conducted the bye-election into the State Assembly occasioned by the death of one of the members.

    He disclosed that the Commission was looking towards the middle of December to conduct a bye-election into the House of Representatives declared vacant as a result of the death of members of the House as well as some state Houses of Assembly.

    According to the INEC boss, “The seat of 25 members of the Rivers state House of Assembly was declared vacant by three other members. The 25 members also declared the seat of the three vacant.

    “After that, there was a court judgement from the Rivers High Court as well as the Federal High Court on the legitimacy of each of these groups of lawmakers. “We at INEC have been following the development. We don’t know what will happen next and so, we are seeking the views of Nigerians, especially legal experts on this.”

    On the conduct of the bye-election, he said the commission was working out the logistics for the conduct, adding that it would soon announce the date for the elections.

    Prof Mahmood said that the Commission was carrying out consultations on the possibility of having political parties that won election into the parliament but lost such members either due to death or resignation to nominate a candidate to fill the vacant position.

    According to him, the tenure of lawmakers is tied to the particular assembly they were elected to, hence the need to ensure that such positions are not left vacant.

    He said the conduct of bye-elections has created lots of logistical issues for the commission, adding that between July 2023 when the current government came into power, it has had about 20 bye-elections.

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    He explained that in other parts of the world, the political party whose member dies simply nominates another person to take over the seat, adding that in Nigeria, this is not the case.

    He said the commission was discussing the possibility of adopting the same method with stakeholders in the nation’s electoral process while asking for suggestions from Nigerians.

     Speaking on preparation for the Ondo governorship election, the INEC boss said the Commission had learnt lessons from previous elections with mass improvement on the voter accreditation process and the upload of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

    In addition, he said “there have been similar improvements in observer and media accreditation. Our voter education efforts are ongoing. The capacity of election duty staff has improved with hands-on training for especially Polling Unit officials.”

    Stop blackmailing Tinubu, Wike, judiciary over Rivers allocation, Okocha tells Fubara

     The Chairman of the APC in Rivers State, Okocha, asked Rivers Governor Fubura to stop blackmailing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the judiciary over last Wednesday’s Federal High Court judgement restricting the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) from releasing allocation to the state.

    He also advised the governor not to link the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister,  Nyesom Wike to the judgement.

    On Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court restrained the apex bank and the Accountant General of the Federation from further releasing funds to the Rivers State Government pending when a lawful appropriation act is passed by a validly constituted House of Assembly.

    Addressing newsmen at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja on Friday, the party’s Rivers State Chairman dismissed all the allegations against President Tinubu, Wike, and the judiciary, warning Fubara that blackmail and weeping up of sentiments cannot help the embattled governor.

    Okocha maintained that the law of the land does not recognise sentiments but facts as presented in the case.

    The APC leader noted that the protracted crisis rocking the state was self-inflicted by the governor who failed to govern according to the dictates of the law, adding that Fubara also failed to exploit the window made available to him by the intervention of President Tinubu.

    According to Okocha, “The crisis in Rivers State today is Governor Sim Fubara versus Governor Sim Fubara. He should stop blaming or employing cheap blackmail to blame Nyesome Wike and President Tinubu.”

    Accusing the governor of committing many constitutional infractions, Okocha singled out the governing of the state without an approved budget. He faulted those playing up unnecessary sentiments arguing that they failed to see the illegality going on under the governor. 

    When asked for the way out, the APC caretaker chairman said the governor must obey the law of the land, including the law regarding the budget of a state.

    “Sections 120, 121, 122 of the constitution speak to this issue regarding budget clearly,” Okocha said.

    The APC chieftain said: “As a political party, the All Progressives Congress, we stand with and by the judgement of the court because it is what will hold sway in the civil society, it is the court, not one man’s morality.

    “We are also using this opportunity to speak against an attempt to disparage innocent persons namely; Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister. In all the court cases, there are about 32 cases where he is not a party to any. Again while bringing in the President?”

    When asked about the position of his party on the moves by some elders and other stakeholders in the Niger Delta to reconcile the  Minister and the governor over the crisis in the state, Okocha observed that such intervention may be coming too late.

    Responding, Okocha said, “I say it’s foolish for anyone to cry when the head is off. There is also this aphorism, that you don’t cry over a spilled milk. Where have these elders been? Where? The matter is narrowing down, if you ask me; because the only other hurdle to escape is the Supreme Court.

    “What are the elders coming to do at this late hour, if they actually would want to come? What are they coming to do? They are the same people who told the governor, that you are a know-all and do-all, they encouraged the governor to believe that his head was bigger than his pillow.

    “They were the ones, they told him, look, your powers are elastic, what can you not do? And the governor agreed to that and today, the Ikwerre man tells you that not everybody that comes to plan your building will be part of the building.

    “No. A lot of them had disappeared into thin air at the time they came to counsel the governor against the decision that he signed, they had lined their pockets. And the governor is on the hot seat. So I don’t see that working, it is too late.

    “But if we want peace, simple thing. The only way to bring peace is to follow the law.”

    Oko-Jumbo asks INEC to conduct bye-elections to replace Amaewhule, others

    Meanwhile, the Speaker of the pro-Governor Siminialayi Fubara lawmakers, Victor Oko-Jumbo, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct  bye-elections to replace Martins Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers in the state House of Assembly.

    Oko-Jumbo, who spoke in Port Harcourt on Friday said the renewed call became pertinent since the legal impediment stopping INEC hitherto, from conducting the bye-election, had been removed.

    He said it was common public knowledge that Martin Chike Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly, on their own accord, defected on the 11th day of December 2023, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), without any justifiable cause.

    Oko-Jumbo stated that their defection from the PDP, which sponsored their election followed the former lawmakers’ failed attempt to impeach Fubara on the 30th day of October, 2023.

    He said: “To frustrate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting a bye-election to fill the vacated seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Chike Amaewhule & 26 others filed Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023 against INEC & 4 others on the 13th day of December, 2023.

    “Subsequently, an order of Interlocutory Injunction was secured, restraining INEC from conducting a bye-election to fill the 27 vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    “After filing the said suit and securing the order of Interlocutory Injunction, Martin Chike Amaewhule and 26 others began to footdrag, and did not do anything to diligently prosecute their suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja.”

    Oko-Jumbo pointed to the futility of that legal suit that Martin Chike Amaewhule and the 26 others pursued, which he said they used as a cover to delay the conduct of the bye-elections.

    He said that on Wednesday, the 30th day of October, 2024, Amaewhule and 26 others, without any reason, discontinued Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023, and it was struck out accordingly.

    He said: “The only impediment to INEC conducting a bye-election to fill the 27 vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly was the order of Interlocutory Injunction restraining INEC from conducting a bye-election.

    “Now that Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023 has been struck out, and the order of Interlocutory Injunction is also spent. I call on INEC to forthwith conduct a bye-election to fill the 27 vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly”.

  • Parties to sign peace accord Nov. 8

    Parties to sign peace accord Nov. 8

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said on Thursday that political parties taking part in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State will be expected to sign a peace accord on Friday, November 8, 2024, in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

    Speaking at the fourth quarterly consultative meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Abuja, the INEC chairman said the peace accord will be coordinated by the National Peace Committee headed by former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

    He said the commission will also hold a meeting with stakeholders in Ondo State ahead of the elections and test the accreditation processes to ensure that everything is in place for the smooth conduct of the election.

    Prof. Yakubu said: “As you are all aware, the election is scheduled for Saturday, November 16, 2024, which is just two weeks away. The collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), mainly from the recent voter registration, ended two days ago.

    “A total of 64,273 PVCs were collected by voters out of the 89,777 cards delivered to the State. This represents an impressive collection rate of 71.6 per cent. I want to thank the CSOs who helped to mobilise registered voters to collect their cards.

    “In the next few days, the commission will upload to our website the cumulative figure of all PVCs collected in each of the 3,933 polling units across the state for result management as provided by law and for public information.

    “As usual, we have learnt lessons from previous elections. We have improved on the voter accreditation process and the upload of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. There have been similar improvements in observer and media accreditation.

    “Our voter education efforts are ongoing. The capacity of election duty staff has improved with hands-on training for polling unit officials.

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    “As we approach the Ondo State governorship election, there will be further improvements, especially in the areas of logistics for the movement of personnel and materials to both land and riverine locations to enable the prompt commencement of polls as well as the management of the processes on election day from voting to declaration of result.

    “Already, mock accreditation of voters and result upload to the IReV has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 6, 2024, in 12 polling units across six local government areas in the three senatorial districts. Detailed locations of the centres have been uploaded to our website. Hard copies are enclosed in your folders.

    “As early as next week, the commission will undertake a final readiness assessment of our preparations for the Ondo election, meet with our officials, engage with stakeholders and interact with the security agencies and transport providers.

    “On this note, I am also glad to announce that the National Peace Committee under the leadership of our respected former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (GFCR) is holding the signing of the peace accord for parties and candidates in Ondo State on Friday, November 8, 2024.

  • After 110 years, Nigeria is indivisible, says Yakubu

    After 110 years, Nigeria is indivisible, says Yakubu

    Eminent professor of history, Mahmood Yakubu, has said Nigeria will not disintegrate, despite its challenges.

    Yakubu told those who regard the amalgamation of the Northern and the Southern protectorates in 1914 as an artificial contraption that will eventually snap to bury the thought.

    He said it is not a miracle that Nigeria has remained indivisible 110 years after its amalgamation but by the determination of the diverse people to manage their heterogeneity.

    Yakubu dismissed calls for divisions among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic nationalities, saying the country has maintained deep-rooted historical ties that have existed among various communities long before the amalgamation.

    According to him, the notion of Nigeria as a united and indivisible entity is settled.

    Yakubu, who is the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), spoke at the weekend in Kaduna during an international conference organised by Arewa House’s Department of History, Political Science, and Economics, alongside the Faculty of Law of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Kaduna State in collaboration with the Pan-African Strategic and Policy Research Group in commemoration of Nigeria’s 110 years of amalgamation.

    The event, with the theme: Making and Building of Nigeria: People, Places, Times, and Legacies from 1914 to 2024, brought together scholars from across the country to x-ray the past, the present and the future of Nigeria’s history.

    Yakubu noted that Arewa House had consistently marked key historical milestones in Nigeria’s history, praising it for bringing scholars together to reflect on the nation’s journey in the past century and a decade.

    He said: “The takeaway for me is the gathering of scholars from different parts of the country to mark the 110 years of Nigeria’s amalgamation. Arewa House has been noted for marking these kinds of historical milestones, and they have done so again.”

    Addressing the ongoing debates about Nigeria’s unity, Yakubu said: “I have made peace with the fact that I am Nigerian. If some people think Nigeria is artificial, they should know that nations are always created in different ways and are consolidated over time. Tell me one nation that was put together by consensus? The fact that we are here over a century later is a plus for Nigeria.”

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    The INEC chairman noted that the people’s relationships and interactions predated British colonisation and the amalgamation of what is now called Nigeria.

    According to him, these historical ties have only grown stronger and will continue to do so.

    General Ishola Williams (retd.), who was represented by Dr. Asma’u Maikudi from Kaduna Polytechnic, stressed the need to prioritise history education across the country.

    He advised that “Our Story” should be made a compulsory subject from kindergarten to tertiary institutions.

    Williams said a good understanding of the past is essential for national development.

    “Without a solid understanding of our history, we risk losing our direction as a nation. It is crucial to train more educators as ‘Ourstorians’ to teach our history comprehensively,” he said.

    The retired Commandant of Army Signals and Commander of Training and Doctrine (TRADOC) called for the establishment of a Centre for Ourstory of Pre-Colonial Africa (COPreCA) at ABU and for Arewa House to serve as the National Institute for Ourstory of Nigeria.

  • BREAKING: INEC can handle local government elections, says chairman Yakubu

    BREAKING: INEC can handle local government elections, says chairman Yakubu

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has it can comfortably handle the conduct of local government elections if the responsibility falls on it.

    The chairman of the commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu said this on Thursday, July 25, when he appeared before the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters on preparations for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.

    He said INEC has the capacity to handle the local government elections but that would only be possible pending when the law is amended to permit it to do so.

    He pointed out that the Commission had been conducting area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory which has been devoid of the problems associated with the conduct of local government elections.

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    He pointed out some advantages of INEC handling elections to include that there are regular elections as when due, stability of tenure, and also that there has never been a caretaker committee in the FCT.

    He noted that there has never been a time one political party has won all the seats at the elections as is common in the states.

    He said if INEC handles the election, it would be better for democracy.

    He, however, said this can only happen if the constitution is amended to take the responsibility from state electoral commissions.

    Details shortly…

  • Openness and transparency antidotes to fake news, says INEC chairman

    Openness and transparency antidotes to fake news, says INEC chairman

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has said that the antidote to the spread of fake news is greater openness and transparency.

    Speaking at the first quarterly consultative meeting with the media, Prof Yakubu lamented the increasing spread of fake news, saying in today’s age of information technology is the spread of fake news and misinformation instantly and on a global scale.

    He said the commission does not believe in censorship and has resorted to constantly interfacing with the media and other stakeholders through regular consultative meetings.

    He said: “We appreciate our partnership with the media and I want to reassure you that INEC will continue to work closely with you. We welcome your reports, commentaries and analyses on elections in particular and electoral activities in general.

    “More specifically, some of the innovations introduced by the Commission to improve service delivery to the electorate, ensure the safety and security of journalists and grant them unimpeded access to various locations during elections and electoral activities draw from your reports as well as the suggestions and recommendations made during our quarterly meetings.

    “I urge you to continue to be a bulwark against fake news and misleading narratives about the Commission and its activities.”

    The INEC chairman said the Commission has maintained the tradition of regular consultations with stakeholders which is critical to elections and electoral activities.

    He said: “We have sustained the consultative engagements arising from which important suggestions and recommendations have been made for the improvement of the electoral process in Nigeria.

    “As you are aware, the mandate of the Commission is to organise, supervise and conduct elections in addition to other electoral activities.

    Read Also: Ondo 2024: INEC says 16 parties will participate, threatens to invoke no report, no accreditation for CSOs

    “This is an extensive responsibility which involves seven different types of elections: general elections, bye-elections, off-cycle elections, supplementary elections, re-run elections, referendum and recall.

    “Only last month, the Commission conducted 48 elections made up of 9 bye-elections and 39 re-run elections in 26 States of the Federation involving three Senatorial Districts, 17 Federal Constituencies and 28 State Constituencies spread across 8,934 Polling Units in 575 Wards located in 80 Local Government Areas with a total of 4,904,627 registered voters.

    “I have said repeatedly that there is no election season in Nigeria any longer. Elections are held regularly and all year round between one general election and another.”

    Giving an update on preparation for the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States, Prof Yakubu said: “We have just six months to the Edo State Governorship election and only eight months before the Ondo state governorship election.

    “For Edo state, 18 political parties conducted their primaries monitored by the Commission. Going by the provision of the Timetable for the election, Political Parties have 20 days from 4th March 2024 to upload the list and personal particulars of their candidates to our dedicated web portal.

    “As at this morning (Thursday, March 21, 2024), 10 Parties have done so. We expect the other Parties to comply before the deadline of 6 pm on Sunday 24th March 2024 when the portal automatically shuts down.

    “A week later on 31st March 2024, the Commission will publish the personal particulars of the candidates (Form EC9) as required by law. I urge the media and the general public, particularly registered voters in Edo State, to scrutinize the bio-data and credentials of the candidates which is the essence of the publication as provided by law.

    “Turning to Ondo state, Political Parties will commence their primaries for the Governorship election in the next two weeks. At the moment, 17 out of 19 Parties have indicated interest in participating in the election.

    “I urge media organisations to engage with Political Parties as well as their aspirants and report on the primaries with the same diligence and depth you report on the main election conducted by INEC.

    “Doing so will go a long way to strengthen our democracy since only the products of the party primaries are ultimately placed on the ballot paper for citizens to vote for in the main election. Party primaries are as important as the main election conducted by INEC”.

    Responding on behalf of the media of the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo underscores the importance of free, fair, and credible elections in the advancement of the nation’s democratic governance.

    Isiguzo said elections serve as the cornerstone of our democracy, providing the mechanism through which citizens exercise their fundamental right to choose their representatives and chart the course of their collective future.

    According to him, the conduct of credible elections not only upholds the principles of democracy but also fosters national unity, stability, and progress and reinforces the legitimacy of democratic institutions while reaffirming the people’s trust in the electoral process.

    He commended the unwavering commitment of the Independent National Electoral Commission to upholding the highest standards of electoral integrity and transparency, saying, “Your dedication to ensuring that every vote counts and every voice is heard is commendable and serves as a beacon of hope for our democracy.”

  • 2019 Elections: Our efforts to get better women participation failed — INEC

    THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has lamented the failure of its effort at strengthening gender equality during the 2019 general elections.

    The National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who disclosed this in his opening remarks at the INEC’s review meeting of the 2019 general elections from a gender perspective yesterday, said although the commission made efforts to encourage women participation, there were factors that prevented that from happening.

    According to him, records showed that women came out in large numbers to participate in the electioneering processes as aspirants but were largely weeded out through the party primary processes, drastically reducing the total number of women who participated in the general elections and the very small number that eventually won elective offices.

    Yakubu, who was represented by the National Commissioner in charge of Outreach and Partnership Committee, Mr Ademola Ogunmola, using the figures available of women participation in politics in Nigeria, observed that the case with Nigeria is very unimpressive, when compared to other places in Africa.

    He said: “The 2019 general election activities and engagements showed high level participation of women in the electoral process as aspirants but due to barriers they regressed in the number that won elections. The party primaries amongst others fell short of expectations as many women could not secure tickets to represent their parties.

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    “During the elections, only 5 out of the 73 candidates who ran for the position of President were women, 1,668 men and 232 women vied for the 109 Senatorial seats while 4,139 men and 533 women contended for 360 seats in the House of Representatives. At the end of the election, only 7 women won Senatorial seats and 11 were elected into the House of Representatives while 4 were elected as deputy Governors.

    “However, other countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa have laid examples to follow. For instance, 12 Sub-Saharan countries elected more than 30% women to legislative positions, while Rwanda reportedly have so many success stories and advancement in electing women to more than 60% of its legislative positions.

    “The huge efforts made by the Commission to support the participation of women in the electoral process did not succeed in addressing the decline of women’s representation in politics. This has become worrisome as women’s participation in governance and leadership is not only essential prerequisite for removing gender inequality but also the attainment of basic human rights.

    “This meeting therefore, is expected to look into the challenges, actions and inactions of stakeholders and ways to bridge them while sustaining the good effort made. There is need to start thinking of how things can be done differently for more impact.

    “Such exercise will assist the Independent National Electoral Commission learn vital lessons that could enable the Commission review its policies and programmes and serve as a roadmap in planning for future elections.

    “There is also need to review the operational framework put in place by the Commission, identify success factors with a view to consolidating and sustaining them. It is important to note that the reviews are not about the Commission alone but about mutual credibility for a successful electoral process and outcome in the future elections.”