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Tag: Mahmood Yakubu

  • No cancellation of any election results – Yakubu

    …Ekiti first to conclude collation

     

    The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu  has said that no cancellation of elections in any part of the country.

    He also revealed that Ekiti state is the first to conclude collation of election result.

    The country went to polls on Saturday to vote in the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Meanwhile, the commission has handedover an Eleectoral Officer (EO) to the security agencies over some infractions.

    Yakubu who did not say much about the offend noted that the case is under investigation.

    On the general conduct of the elections, Yakubu said the Commission is happy with the peaceful polls.

  • Umahi commends INEC for smooth conduct of elections in Ebonyi

    Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the successful conduct of the election in the state.

    Umahi stated this after voting at Onuwafor polling unit in Umunaga ward, Uburu in Ohaozara local government area.

    He said that the election was excellent and beautiful and therefore commended the INEC boss, Mahmood Yakubu for the smooth process.

    The governor who voted by 10:20am noted that the turnout of voters was an indication that Nigerians were beginning to know their rights.

    He said that with the disposition of the electoral body, politicians should be held responsible if any of the processes failed and not the INEC.

    Umahi said: “The process is excellent, very beautiful. INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu should be commended. If any process fails, the fault is from the politicians and not part of the INEC. INEC has done very well. The problem of the card readers are from the operators. The card readers are functioning well but the operators are the problems. They need to be educated on the use of the card readers”.

    Read Also: Ebonyi traditional rulers endorse Buhari, Umahi

    “There is high turnout. It is a statement from the people that leaders should stop taking them for granted. Everybody is interested now. So if you are a leader and you are voted into office, your eyes must be on the people because the level of turnout is an indication that Nigerians are beginning to know their right”.

    The governor said there were infiltration of people in some places because people who were not on ground thought they can use thugs and security agencies to intimidate the people.

    Umahi however condemned the killings in Ikwo local government area on Friday night where two people died, stressing that the perpetrators of the dastardly act must be face the full wrath of the law.

    “The incident in Ikwo is saddening. Ikwo is going to be isolated at the end of the day. All the killings and evils against the people of Ikwo must be attended to. It’s not election or no election, anyone that takes life must be called to order, the governor vowed.”

     

  • State of The Nation: There will be massive voters turnout – Eriye

    Political analyst and Sunday Editor of The Nation Newspapers, Festus Eriye, joined by Senior Correspondent Dare Odufowokan to discuss, the rescheduled 2019 election, President Muhammadu Buhari, ballot box snatching, INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, PDP and APC.

  • Elections begin by 8am, INEC assures

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians and the international community that it has concluded arrangements to commence elections by 8am on Saturday.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, gave the assurance on Friday in Abuja while addressing a press conference on the commissions preparations for the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Yakubu said that the commission has concluded the deployment of sensitive and non-sensitive materials to the 774 local government areas across the country.

    “We engaged 825,543 ad hoc staff ranging from presiding officers to collation and returning officers. We have mobilized 80,000 commercial vehicles and about 996 boats for the deployment of personnel and materials.

    “The materials include 707,892 ballot boxes and voting cubicles, and we are mobilizing these to various locations by land and sea.

    “We have accredited 120 domestic and 36 international observer groups, deploying accumulative number of 73,000 observers.

    “We have concluded the movement of personnel, materials to the 774 local and 8809 RACs nationwide.

    “All arrangements are now in place to facilitate opening of polls at 8 a.m. on Saturday,” he said.

    He said that measures were also in place to combat vote buying and other electoral malpractice.

    He said that the national situation room would open at 6 p.m. on Friday, while the national collation centre would also be opened at 6 p.m. on Sunday, both situated at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

    The chairman advised eligible voters to visit gotomypu.ng to obtain location to their polling units, saying in the last 10 days about 190,000 persons had utilised the commission’s various social media platforms to geolacate their Polling Units.

    He said that the election would be by simultaneous accreditation and voting system, and that only registered voters with Permanent Voter Cards would be allowed to vote.

    “As we go to poll tomorrow, I appeal to voters to be peaceful and orderly before, during and after the elections.

    Read Also: ‘We have confidence in INEC to conduct polls’

    “The police working with other security agencies have assured us of adequate security for voters, electoral officers, observers and the media.

    “May I also appeal to all to ensure compliance with the usual restriction of movement for those who are not observers or on essential dut,” the chairman said.

    Yakubu also urged members of the public to desist from issuing any results of the elections, saying only INEC was empowered by law to declare results.

    “The commission will work assiduously to ensure that collation and declaration of results are done at the various levels expeditiously.

    On his part, the acting Inspector General of Police (I-G), Mohammed Adamu, reiterated that maximum security would be provided before, during and after the election.

    Adamu said that the security personnel at the polling units would not be armed and there would be no need for apprehension while the election is going on.

    “We have some group of people who might want to disrupt the election we have put in place strategy to stop that.

    “We have tactical units of our personnel and other services that will be patrolling everywhere to ensure that the process is not disrupted.

    “The patrolling personnel will be armed and will deal with anybody who wants to disrupt the process in the course of the election,

    “If any electoral offence is committed, we will work with the INEC officials to apprehend the culprit and set up investigative team headed by Commissioner of Police in charge of legal Unit to investigate the cases and prosecute them.

    “Be it vote buying, ballot box snatching, be it thuggery, if you commit that, you will be arrested and prosecuted.

    “After the voting, movement of electoral materials to the collation centre will be protected. Armed security personnel will be posted to the ward collation centres.

    “Even when the results are announced, those people who are planning to disrupt the process, we have put strategies in place to prevent that,” he said.

    The IG said what was required from all Nigerians was to go out peacefully, cast their vote and wait for the announcement of the results.

    “If you have no business on the Election Day if you are not an accredited official, please don’t come out.

    “All the accredited officials whether domestic or foreign observers must carry their tags. You can move freely and be protected.

    “If you identify anybody that wants to infiltrate you and claim to be an observer for a group, we will appreciate you exposing such a person for us to remove him or her from your group,” Adamu said.

    The national election will hold in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Voting will take place in 176,973 locations, made up of 119,973 polling units and 57, 023 voting points.

    The elections will be to elect a president from the 73 presidential candidates, 109 senators from 1,820 senatorial candidates and 360 House of Representatives members from the 4,631 candidates contesting in the election.

    NAN

  • How parallel voter tabulation ’ll work, by UK, US-backed monitor YIAGA

    The Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) Africa on Thursday explained how it would verify the general elections results through the parallel voter tabulation (PVT).

    It expects to receive over 33,000 observer reports containing 500,000 unique pieces of information on the process and results of the election.

    The group said over 94 data clerks as well as a team of data analysts will work throughout Saturday and Sunday to process, analyse and verify the reports at the Watching the Vote (WTV) National Data Center located on Floor 02 of the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.

    YIAGA Africa has as its technical partners the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the US-based National Democratic Institute.

    At a briefing by WTV Working Group Chair Dr. Hussaini Abdu and YIAGA Africa Executive Director Samson Itodo, the group said the PVT, described as the gold standard observation methodology, has been utilised throughout the world and in previous state elections in Nigeria.

    “Based on reports from its observers in the sampled polling units, YIAGA Africa will also provide an independent projection of voter turnout and will be able to project the vote shares that each party should receive within a narrow range.

    “If the official results fall within YIAGA Africa’s estimated ranges, then the public, political parties and candidates should have confidence in the ballots cast at the polling units.

    “YIAGA Africa undertook the WTV project to provide Nigerian voters, presidential candidates, political parties, civil society and INEC with independent information about whether the official results for the 23 February 2019 presidential election truly reflect the ballots cast at polling units.

    “The WTV project is driven by data – for all Nigerians – Beholden to None! Only INEC, however, has the legal mandate to announce the election results.

    “As soon as INEC announces the official results, YIAGA Africa will follow up with a final press conference to share its own statement on the accuracy of the election results and will publicise these projections,” the group said.

    YIAGA Africa said following the postponement, it deployed observers in the 774 Local Government Areas to monitor the implementation of INEC’s reviewed election logistical plan.

    It found that INEC is retrieving materials from the LGAs to the Central Bank and has been reconfiguring smart card readers.

    The group praised INEC’s openness through the daily briefing by the chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu, urging the commission to maintain the briefing throughout the 2019 elections.

    “However, reports received by YIAGA Africa indicates that some Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) and Electoral Officers (EO) are reluctant to share information with relevant stakeholders on the state of INEC’s preparedness for the elections,” the group said.

    Read Also: 2019: INEC accredits 144 observer groups

    YIAGA Africa warned about the threats of violence, hate speech and misinformation, saying they portend great danger to peace and national security.

    “Electoral stakeholders especially candidates and political party leaders should refrain from heating up the polity as Nigeria is on a fringe of a potential electoral conflict if caution is not exercised.

    “Security agencies should exercise their functions within constitutional limits. The rights of citizens must be respected before, during and after the elections.

    “YIAGA Africa reminds all security agencies involved in election security operations that the 2010 Electoral Act as amended prescribes electoral offences and sanctions.

    “Therefore, it will be unconstitutional and a disregard of the rule of law to invoke sanctions not prescribed by law for electoral offences,” it said.

    YIAGA Africa said its WTV National Data Center will be open to the public and media at all times and will provide timely updates on the conduct of the election based on the near real-time reports from its observers.

    “These will include press conferences at the WTV National Data Center to share a mid-day situational statement on 23 February 2019 and a press conference on the morning after (Sunday February 24) to share preliminary data on the process.

    “At present, all 3,076 PVT observers are sending in practice reports based on an election day scenario, which will be duly processed by the data clerks and data analysis teams.

    “YIAGA Africa stands ready to observe the presidential elections on behalf of all Nigerians and to ensure that the people’s votes are accurately counted.

    “YIAGA Africa calls on the citizens of Nigeria, the parties and candidates, INEC and the forces of law and order to also play their parts to ensure a peaceful, credible and inclusive process.

    “YIAGA Africa calls on every eligible voter to get ready with their permanent voter’s card (PVC) and come out in their number to exercise their civic responsibilities and vote,” the group said.

     

  • Falae writes INEC chairman over retirement as SDP chairman

    Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and presidential candidate of the Alliance for Democracy in 1999 elections, Chief Olu Falae has officially written to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, on his retirement as Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    According to the letter dated February 19, 2019, and made available to The Nation on Thursday by the SDP’s Director, Media and Publicity, Hon Yemi Akinbode, Falae said the Deputy National Chairman 1 from his Zone, Prof. Tunde Adeniran assumes the position of National Chairman in an acting capacity for the rest of his tenure which expires in March 2020.

    The letter reads in part: “I write to inform you that I have retired voluntarily from active partisan politics with effect from February 8, 2019, and therefore ceased to be the chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), from that date. In accordance with the provision of Section 13.2 (ii) of our party’s constitution, Professor Tunde Adeniran, the Deputy National Chairman 1 from the chairman’s Zone, assumes the post of National Chairman in an acting capacity for the rest of his tenure which expires in March 2020.

    “I wish to thank you, your fellow commissioners and other staff for the courtesies you always extended to me while I served as the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party.”

  • APC to INEC: You must earn the confidence of Nigerians again

    …says asking Yakubu to resign not the solution

     

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) Presidential Campaign Council said on Wednesday that asking the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to resign is of the solution to delivering a credible election this weekend, saying the commission must work to earn the confidence of Nigerians again that they can deliver a credible poll.

    Director, Election monitoring and Planning, Babatunde Raji Fashola who spoke at a news conference in Abuja said many Nigerians have sacrificed so much for Nigerian democracy, pointing out that their sacrifice must not be allowed to waste, pointing out that any party asking the INEC Chairman to resign does not understand the workings of government

    He said “Election and lack of elections have consequences. Many people have fought hard for this democracy, it has delivered uncomfortable results in the past as well as results we can live with and every effort to continue to improve it is an opportunity we must not turn our back on. Every party is disappointed, every well-meaning Nigerian is disappointed, but that is no reason to throw the baby away with the bath water.

    “So, it is for the INEC Chairman and his team to reclaim the confidence of the people and show us that they can deliver on what they have been asked to do. If you ask him to resign, will that give us an election?

    “If he resigns, will that give us an election? If the person who has been there for four years is having challenges now, who is prepared that will replace him and do what he has not been able to do in three and half years. The party that is thinking that way does not even know how government works. The solution is for all Nigerians to rally round INEC to get it right and that is what we intend to do.”

    Fashola who is also the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, said Nigerians must not allow the action of anti-democratic agents dampen our enthusiasm. Although a week looked like eternity, it has trickled down and is getting closer to the reversed date.

    He said “lots of Nigerians have sacrificed greatly and sometimes supremely with their lives to give us this democracy. We must covert the disappointment 16th February 2019 to an all-time determination on the 23rd of February 2019 that others have made. It is democracy that will preserve our freedom and the vigilance, particularly those appointed to serve as agents of our party must be all time high. The vigilance of those appointed to serve as agents of our party must be all time high.

    Read Also: I remain APC candidate in Enugu east senatorial zone- Ezeh

    “Our agents must know what their rights are and notice the public of our commitment to a free election. The agents have a right to be admitted to polling centres and collation centre in the area where the party is contesting election.

    “They have a right to take notes and statistics in a manner to undermine or impugn the integrity of the electoral process. They have a right to object to a prospective voter if he is suspected to be an impostor or if he has voted earlier and the record shows that if he does not belong to that polling unit. These are steps taken to ensure free and fair election. They also have a right to ask for a recount of the ballot only once at his polling unit after his presiding officer might have counted it in his presence.”

  • Yakubu meets stakeholders, plead for understanding

    The much expected stakeholders meeting on the postponement of the 2019 general election is about to commence.

    The management of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by Prof. Mahmood Yakubu walked into the hall of the meeting exactly 3.22 pm, over one after the scheduled time of 2.00 pm.

    The INEC top management team, it was learnt were locked in a meeting with some head of observation team.

    In his remark, Yakubu said the postponement was entirely that of the commission and not under any influence or security issues.

    He noted that the commission earlier considered Sunday or Monday but had a rethink after receiving input from the ICT department that it will take five days to reconfigure card readers.

    He therefore assured the nation and stakeholders that the commission is determined to keep to its promise to conduct a free, fair and transparent election that beats the 2015 general elections, which has become a benchmark for the commission.

    Yakubu also agreed that the recent fire incidents in Abia, Anambra and Plateau had effect on the commissions scheduled of activities.

    He however said the commission has been able to mop up card readers from other areas, while new Permanent Voters Cards have also been printed as replacement for those who lost their PVCs to the fire incident.

    Yakubu’s decision was endorsed by all political parties present.

  • Justify your integrity through credible elections, Buhari urged

    A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to put his integrity to work by being faithful to his promise to ensure a free, fair and credible Presidential and national assembly elections on Saturday.

    He said the President must also demonstrate his strong resolve for a united Nigeria and prove to the whole world that he is really in charge of affairs in the country by working his talks as contained in his nationwide broadcast on Thursday.

    In a statement made available to The Nation, Frank said: “It is good that President Buhari has once again pledged to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible. That is what Nigerians and the world expect of him at this time save for the fact that those who are out to frustrate and rig the elections on his behalf are people he supervises directly.

    “If the President is serious with his promise, let him stop the security agencies, especially the police, military and the DSS from intimidating and harassing Nigerians especially opposition party leaders as we count down to the first election tomorrow.

    Read Also: Attack on Buhari , VP treasonable, says Falana

    “If the President is serious with his promise, let him stop illegal arrests and disruption of voting anywhere across the country by security agencies.

    “If the President is serious on his promise to guarantee a credible election, let him withdraw his men mounting undue pressure on INEC officials to help him win re-election by fraudulently allocating unearned votes to the APC.

    “If the President is serious, let him warn the Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, all National Commissioners of INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioners, staff and all adhoc staff of the agency to abide by their oath of office which is to put Nigeria first above personal and selfish gain during these elections.

    “If the President wants Nigerians and the world to take him serious, let him stop the evil being plotted to disable GSM and internet signals nationwide in order to frustrate voters and election observers from communicating, sharing information and comparing notes.”

    He urged the President to emulate former President Goodluck Jonathan whose commitment to democratic ideals led to a highly acceptable electoral outcome in 2015 and a peaceful transmission of power to the then opposition APC.

    He insisted that Nigerians will only believe his “free and fair elections’ promise if the election is conducted in an atmosphere devoid of intimidation, harassment, violence and rigging by the APC, INEC and security agencies.

  • Rivers APC wants INEC boss jailed for contempt

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) and its governorship candidate in Rivers state, Pastor Tonye Cole wants the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu sent to jail for contempt for allegedly refusing to obey an Appeal Court order of stay of execution.

    Director, Strategic Communications for the Tonye Cole Campaign Organization, Prince Tonye Princewill said in a statement in Abuja that the INEC boss has already been served contempt proceedings to come and explain to the court why he has refused to comply with the order of court.

    Princewill said a delegation from the APC in Rivers state has served contempt proceedings on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission for not being independent enough.

    According to him, Yakubu is to appear in court to explain why he should not be sent to jail for disobeying subsisting court orders and excluding APC in Rivers state.

    He said “proceedings were served yesterday because INEC has shown us that it is no longer independent. How else can you explain the speed they acted after a judgement by Justice Omotosho that said we should not only be removed from the ballot, but we should also be barred from campaigning? People should learn to fear God.

    “Now that same Justice Omotosho order has been stayed, yet two weeks later, we’re still waiting for our rights to be restored and INEC is comfortable that. To make matters worse, the Supreme Court last week threw out the appeal against the stay judgement. So what is still holding INEC? They cannot exclude us. But if they do, they will face the legal consequences. We can either do this election once or they will conduct it twice. The law is on our side.”

    Read Also: Rivers APC: Supreme Court to rule on other three appeals

    He commended Rivers people for showing restraint and implored them to come out and vote as who becomes President is who determines the leaders in the state, saying “do not be distracted by INEC. If they do not put us on the ballot, that election will be repeated. It will not be an election. But the Presidential is not in doubt. All states must put in their quota towards victory. That includes us too here in Rivers state.

    It will be recalled that despite several pleas and multiple court orders, INEC has continued to stay mute on the matter of Rivers state, offering no details as to why the numerous judgements in favour of the APC have not been abided by, whereas judgements in favour of the PDP are more readily attended to.

    It appears that forces unseen have an interest in not seeing APC in Rivers state thrive.

    This no doubt is not the end of the matter.