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Tag: Mahmood Yakubu

  • 2019: INEC cannot afford to disappoint – Yakubu

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral  Commission, (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has said that the commission cannot afford to disappoint Nigeria and the rest of the World in the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    Yakubu therefore gave an assurance of an improved conduct of the  forthcoming general elections, saying that it will be an improvement of the 2015 polls.

    He spoke on Thursday when he receive in audience the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Bernhard Schlagheck and German Secretary of State Walter Lindner at the Commission’s headquarters, Abuja.

    He said the commission was determined not just to repeat the feat attained in the 2015 polls but to improve on it to further affirm the that the last general poll was not a fluke.

    He said: “We cannot afford to disappoint Nigerians, we shall not disappoint the international community. Each time we have visitors like you we have been encouraged.

    “We are aware that the eyes of the world are on Nigeria for the reasons you have mentioned and more.We are also aware that in 2015 Nigeria conducted elections that were commended around the world. We have been beneficiary of the elections. Each time we travelled on election observation around the world, not only to praise the achievements of Nigeria in 2015, but wish to learn on the experience of Nigeria.”

    He further added, “What Nigeria achieved in 2015 and what we hope to achieve in 2019 is not just in the handiwork of what you see in the commission, but also the commendation we received from the international community. So we appreciate these supports and I want to assure you that we will not let the world down.

    “What happened in 2015 is certainly not a fluke, we hope 2019 will be a further affirmation of maturity of Nigeria democracy.”

    Read Also: INEC’s anti-vote buying app

    He commended the support of the German government and development partners for their support to INEC and the ECONEC members, stressing that the commission was not unmindful of the interest of the international community on elections.

    He said: “It is 36 days today from the 2019 election; already the long term observation mission of the EU is in Nigeria for the election, this is a further affirmation of the interest of the international community on elections.”

    Earlier, Germany Secretary of State, Lindner reminded INEC that in 2015 Nigeria conducted election that was an example to the African Continent and the entire word,  which will be the standard with which the 2019 general elections would be measured.

    He charged the Commission to be neutral so as to guarantee free and fair elections.

    Lindner noted that Nigeria being the economic power house of Africa with over 200 million people, Germany and the rest of the world are interested in the political stability of the country.

    He stated that whatever happens in Nigeria negatively has repercussion for the whole world and promised support to the nation’s electoral process.

    He said: “Nigeria is the biggest country in Africa; it is the economic power house.  It has 200 million people.  It has the dimension of Germany and France together. That is how big you are. You are heavy weight giant in the continent.

    What ever happened in Nigeria has very important repercussion on the rest of the continent and I will say on the rest of the world because Nigeria is a very important country seating on a lot of wealth, oil and natural resources.

    “So the way we handle public stability, political stability and economic challenges will be closely watched anywhere, everywhere in the world.

    “You have important elections coming up. Last election has been an example in the continent and also around the globe, for how you do political transition peacefully.

    “2015 is in the back of every politician mind around the world. So the standard is there. Of course you will be measured against the standard, wether the same, I will not say transition because it depend on the outcome of the election, but the same peacefulness will reign in Feb. and you have very important role to play there.

    “If things go well people take it for granted that is an easy election. Things are a bite more tense, people look at you; that is where you coming into the game and you have to be the guarantor of free and fair credible elections. “He later told journalists that “After good talks with the chairman I must say we left the country with a lot of confidence and this will be the case.

    “This electoral commission is in good hands; nevertheless it is always good to see what is coming up as challenges. We can predict what is happening and sure whatever happens your skill will guide your colleagues through in times to come.”

  • 2019: INEC seeks new approach to deployment of security personnel

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has stated his desire to have a new approach to deployment of security personnel for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    The electoral body is scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for 16th February, while that of states is scheduled for 2nd of March 2019.

    Yakubu who expressed his displeasure to the previous uncoordinated approach, which makes it looks as if the security agencies are running a parallel arrangement with the commission.

    Consequently, in the forthcoming general polls, he said the armed forces will only be used for the securing of the distribution and delivery of election materials and protection of election officials.

    The INEC boss also posited that the police force will be playing the leading role while other security agencies play supportive role.

    Yakubu who backed his stand with the provision of the Electoral law,  said the security architecture for the 2019 elections must be consistent with section 29 subsection 3.

    He spoke on Wednesday during the Regular Consultative meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES). ICCES consist of all the security agencies and INEC. The committee over sees the security of both personnel and materials during and after elections. It is co-chair by the chair of the commission and the National Security Adviser.

    Yakubu who informed the various representatives of the security agencies of the INEC level of preparedness ahead of the 2019 election said the meeting shall discuss modalities for actualizing the provision of the law as it relates to deployment of security personnel.

    Read Also: 2019: 84.004m eligible to vote, says INEC

    He said, “Learning from the experience of some the 195 off season elections conducted since 2015, it is pertinent to draw our attention to the need for a different approach to the deployment of security forces during elections. The Nigeria Police Force remains the lead agency for election security . Other security agencies will play a supportive role to the Nigeria police.

    “However, we need a new security architecture for 2019 consistent with the provision of section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) which provides as follows:  “Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law and for the purposes of securing the vote, the commission shall be responsible for requesting for the deployment of relevant security personnel necessary for elections or registration of voters and shall assign them in a manner to be determined by the commission in consultation with the relevant security agencies.

    “Provided that the commission shall only request for the deployment of the Nigerian Armed Forces only for the purposes of securing the distribution and delivery of election materials and protection of election officials.

    “Accordingly, this meeting shall discuss modalities for actualizing the provision of the law. In particular, we are committed to ensuring that elections are organised a such a manner that the security agencies are not perceived to be running parallel arrangement with INEC. Rather, it should strictly be INEC’s plan for the election that should be implemented.

    This meeting, he therefore said ” is convened primarily to update members of the ICCES on our preparations for the 2019 General Elections. It is also an opportunity to hear from the security agencies on your preparations so far.”

  • 2019: Lagos, Kano dominate registered voters

    Lagos and Kano States still maintain the lead in the register of voters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which was presented to registered political parties by the commission, on Monday.

    INEC said a total 84,004,084 Nigerians will vote in the elections, after carrying out automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS) on persons who registered during the continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise.

    Out of the over 84 million voters, Lagos State accounted for 6, 570,291 million while Kano has 5, 457,747 million voters.

    In 2015, Lagos and Kano States recorded 5.8 million and 5.0 million respectively. This represents 11.30% and 8.51% respectively.

    The analysis of the voter register presented to the parties by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, showed that North West has the highest number of registered voters with over 20.2 million. This was followed by South West with 16.3 million voters.

    The South East has the least with slightly over 10 million voters. North East recorded 11.3 million; North Central, 13.4 million; and South-South, 12.9 million.

    Further analysis showed that male registrants was 44, 405,439 million while female accounted for 39, 598,645 million voters.

    Prof. Yakubu disclosed that INEC disclosed that the commission had stayed strictly with the electoral timetable and programme of activities earlier released.

    He reassured the party leaders that there was no change in the number of polling units and voting points used for the 2015 general elections and the 2016 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The INEC boss also denied that the card reader has been enhanced to recapture voters’ fingerprints at polling units and automatically overwrite the biometric record on the commission’s database.

    He assured that smart card readers would be used to accredit voters for the 2019 Genyeral elections.

    “For clarity, I wish to stress that the function of the smart card reader during accreditation is to confirm, verify and authenticate the voter.

    “First, it shall be used to confirm that the PVC is genuine and issued by INEC. Cloned cards or cards that do not match the codes for a particular polling unit in which the voter is registered will be rejected by the card readers.

    “Secondly, the card readers shall verify that the voter who presents the PVC is the actual owner of the card by ensuring that the personal details on the card reader are consistent with the manual register for the polling unit.

    “Thirdly, the card reader shall be used to authenticate the fingerprint of the voter as an additional confirmatory procedure.

    “If the fingerprint is not authenticated by the card reader but the PVC is confirmed as genuine and the voter’s personal details are consistent with the manual register, he/she shall be allowed to vote,” Yakubu stated.

    He added that the incident form used in previous elections “which is only completed by the presiding officer without the involvement of the voter,” has abolished.

    According to him, “where the biometric authentication fails, the voter will be required to thumbprint a box next to his/her picture on the register and to enter his/her mobile telephone number before proceeding to vote.”

    On the permanent Voters’ cards (PVCs), he said they  printed and delivered to all the states for collection by registered voters, but regretted that millions of cards were still yet to be collected.

  • 2019: 84.004m eligible to vote, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has released the final register of voter ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

    According to the final voter register which was issued to the 91 political parties in the country, 84.004 million eligible voters have been cleared to vote in the 16th February and 2nd March 2019 polls.

    Besides, INEC insisted that the smart card readers will be deployed for accreditation of voters during elections, despite the fact that the president refused to assent to the 2019 amended act which would have given legal teeth to the deployment of the smart card readers.

    INEC Chair, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu who presented the register to parties in Abuja on Monday at the 7th regular quarterly consultative meeting with political parties said: “After the mandatory display of the register in all polling units nationwide for claims and objections from 6th- 12th November 2018, the final register for the 2019 General Elections stands at 84,004,084 voters. This is the register that will be presented to each political party at today’s meeting. It is also the same register that will be available at each polling unit nationwide on election day.”

    He also revealed that the printed Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) have been delivered to states for collection; urging all registered voters who have not collected their PVCs to approach any of the Local Government Area offices or designated collection centres.

    According to him: “Similarly, the Commission has printed and delivered the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to the States for collection by registered voters. I urge all registered voters who have not collected their PVCs to approach any of our Local Government Area offices and other designated collection centres nationwide to pick up their cards. While we are encouraged by the response so far, millions of cards are still yet to be collected. I wish to reiterate that the Commission will not allow the collection of PVCs by proxy. Registered voters should endeavour to collect their cards personally without which no person can vote on election day.”

    Yakubu also insisted that the Smart Card Readers will be deployed for the accreditation of voters; while announcing an amendment to the incident form that will be deployed I case of any hitch with the card readers.

    Read Also: 2019: INEC presents voters’ register to political parties

    He said: “On this note, let me re-emphasise the Commission’s policy that the Smart Card Readers will be used for the 2019 General Elections for accreditation of voters. For clarity, I wish to stress that the function of the Smart Card Reader during accreditation is to confirm, verify and authenticate the voter. First, it shall be used to confirm that the PVC is genuine and issued by INEC. Cloned cards or cards that do not match the codes for a particular polling unit in which the voter is registered will be rejected by the Card Readers. Secondly, the Card Readers shall verify that the voter who presents the PVC is the actual owner of the Card by ensuring that the personal details on the Card Reader are consistent with the manual register for the polling unit. Thirdly, the Card Reader shall be used to authenticate the fingerprint of the voter as an additional confirmatory procedure. If the fingerprint is not authenticated by the Card Reader but the PVC is confirmed as genuine and the voter’s personal details are consistent with the manual register, he/she shall be allowed to vote.”

     

  • APC plots to rig election, PDP alleges

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again accused President Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of plots to rig the 2019 elections.
    At a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, alleged frenzied desperation to foist President Buhari back on Nigerians against the wish of the majority.
    Ologbondiyan said, “Having realized that there is no way they can win in a credible, free and fair presidential election, the Buhari Presidency and the APC, in cahoots with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), have been engaged in series of provocative machinations aimed to corrupt the electoral process, trigger violent dissentions and ultimately derail our democratic process.
    “You will recall that on Thursday, the PDP vehemently rejected the plots by INEC and the Presidency to rig the election by creating illegal polling centres in Chad and Niger Republic, under the guise of ‘special arrangement’ for displaced Nigerians in those countries to participate in the presidential election.

    “The PDP had exposed the plot to use such illegal centres for allocation of fictitious votes, massive ballot stuffing, voting by aliens, underage and unregistered persons to pull millions of fictitious votes in favour of President Buhari.

    “Having been busted, INEC beat a retreat only to invent a fresh ruse by announcing that the ‘special arrangement’ would only be for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) within the shores of Nigeria, while secretly retaining the illegal offshore voting plot”.

    Read Also: APC to PDP: Nigeria more secured under Buhari’s govt

    The party spokesman said intelligence available to the PDP indicated that instead of the open offshore voting centres, the Presidency had directed INEC to circumvent the checks by secretly opening illegal voting centres at the desert fringes and remote border lines with Chad and Niger, and use them to achieve its original plans to rig the presidential election.

    According to the main opposition party, part of the plot is to use the illegal remote centres, which will not have functional Smart Card Readers, to allow unchecked voting by aliens, and underage persons as well as provide the unlimited latitude for criminal allocation of fictitious votes for President Buhari and the APC.

    The PDP also alleged plots to compromise security personnel operating in the affected areas to provide official cover for the rigging plot.

    Continuing, the PDP said, “Furthermore, it is instructive to inform Nigerians that, as part of the Buhari Presidency’s rigging plot, INEC has been instructed to deploy defective Smart Card Readers to IDP camps, particularly in some strategic northern states, to pave way for direct manipulations, including alteration of voter register and voting by unregistered persons, particularly, with the foreclosure of incident forms for manual accreditation.

    “This grand plot to rig is the essential reason President Muhammadu Buhari has deliberately refused to sign the amendments to the Electoral Act, which among other things checked manual manipulation by insisting on the use of card readers for biometric accreditation of voters and elimination of over-voting.

    “It is clear that the Buhari Presidency is desperate to re-enact the same rigging scenario, which, in 2015, allowed 13.5 million unauthorized persons to participate in the presidential election, paving the way for the illegal allocation of millions of fictitious votes to President Buhari and we urge Nigerians to unite in condemnation of this ignoble scheme.

    “The PDP therefore rejects, as completely deceptive, the untenable assurances and lip service by this overtly compromised INEC that it can deliver a credible election without an across-the-board biometric accreditation of voters and the use incidence form.

    “Our party completely rejects the plan by INEC to substitute biometric accreditation with manual verification on self-recognition and thumbprint on the voters register.

    “Such primitive method of accreditation only opens the way for unlimited rigging, multiple, underage and alien voting, as well as ballot stuffing which will afford President Buhari and the APC to manipulate themselves back to power against the wish of majority of Nigerians.

    “The PDP, therefore in very unambiguous term, cautions INEC under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu not to be used to set our nation on fire but to immediately retrace its steps and untangle itself from the wicked scheme of the APC as Nigerians will never allow them to have their way.

    “For the purposes of emphasis, the PDP rejects all forms of fraudulent “special arrangements” tailored to rig this election. Our party insists that elections must only hold in statutorily designated polling centers across our country.

    “The PDP and indeed, Nigerians are not ready to accept any fabricated result from any illegal polling center created to assist President Buhari to rig the election.

    “This is essentially because all IDP camps in our country fall within the catchment area of an already delineated polling unit. Therefore any individual who is displaced from his original area of registration is at liberty to have his registration transferred to an exiting statutory polling center near his or her IDP camp of residence. This is a provision that is clear to all, including the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

    “The whole world has now seen that the only reason President Buhari has refused to sign the Electoral Act is because he knows that there is no way he can win in a peaceful, credible, free and fair election. President Buhari is not ready for elections. His only hope in contesting the election is getting INEC and security forces to assist him and the APC to rig.

    “For PDP, our party and Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, are ready for the election but we caution INEC under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to note that by playing the Buhari/APC rigging script, it is running on collusion course with the people.

    “This anti-democratic tendency may attract dire consequences as Nigerians are now, more than ever before, ready, willing and resolute to take back their country from the incompetent, divisive and arrogantly corrupt Buhari administration, come 2019.  Enough is Enough”.

  • 2019: INEC raises alarm, says parties nominate underage for presidential election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has accused some political parties of submitting underage for the presidential election, thereby running foul of the electoral law, it was learnt. 

    This is as the commission confirmed that at the end of the period for the substitution and withdrawal of candidates for the Presidential election, a total of seventy-three (73) political parties have now filed their nominations. 

    The not too young to run law set the thirty-five age for the president and Vice President.

    The bill was passed by the National Assembly last year to alter Sections 65, 106, 131, 177 of the constitution. It was to reduce the age qualification for president from 40 to 30; governor from 35 to 30; senator from 35 to 30; House of Representatives membership from 30 to 25 and State House of Assembly membership from 30 to 25.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu who disclosed this yesterday at a capacity building for reporter in Abuja revealed that some parties were discovered to have nominated names of candidates below the mandatory age of thirty-five years for  presidential and vice presidential candidates.

    The commission however noted that the attention of the parties concerned have been drawn to the breach of the constitutional requirement. 

    Read Also: INEC faces huge challenge in 2019, says Martins

    He said, ” A few parties have nominated candidates below the mandatory age of thirty-five (35) years for as Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates. We have drawn the attention of the parties concerned to the breach of the constitutional requirement ahead of the publication of the full list of presidential and vice presidential candidates for the 2019 General Elections.”

    On the number of political parties that filed their nominations for the presidential election, “At the end of the period for the substitution and withdrawal of candidates for the Presidential election, a total of seventy-three (73) political parties have now filed their nominations.

    For National Assembly elections, he said a total of 1,848 candidates are vying for the 109 senatorial seats, while 4,635 candidates for the House of Representatives.

    The breakdown shows that 1,615 male and 233 female are contesting for the senatorial seats while 4,066 male and 569 female are competing for the 360 seats in the House of Representatives. 

    As for State elections, a total of 1,068 candidates are contesting for 29 governorship positions, while work is still going on for the 991 States Assembly as well as the 68 Area Council chairmen and counsellors for the Federal Capital Territory. 

    The breakdown for the governorship list shows 980 male and 88 female are contesting for 29 Governorship positions with 805 male and 263 female Deputy Governorship candidates. 

  • 2019: We will never tolerate any breach of the law, INEC warns

    As the Independent National Electoral Commission wind up activities on the submission and withdrawal of candidates for the 2019 general polls, the commission has warned that it would not tolerate any breach of the timelines provided for in the timetable for the elections.

    The warning is coming at the heel of the closing date for the substitution of candidates for the governorship, states Assembly and council polls. 

    Political parties have till midnight today 1st December 2018 for any substitution or withdrawal of candidates ahead of the 2nd March, 2019 states elections.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja noted that the commission has religiously followed the timelines and has so far executed seven of its fourteen scheduled activities.

    Read Also: 2019: Sokoto youths endorse Tambuwal, Atiku’s bid

    He said: “We did not, and will never, tolerate any breach of the strict timelines provided for in the timetable for the elections.

    “You would recall that on 9th January 2018, the Commission released the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2019 General Elections. For the first time in our history, the date for General Election was announced over a year in advance.

    More specifically, the timetable lists fourteen (14) step-by-step constitutional and other legal and other statutory activities required of the Commission ahead of the elections beginning with the formal Publication of Notice and ending with the election day.

    So far, INEC has successfully implemented seven (7) out of the fourteen (14) activities strictly on schedule, including the conduct of party primaries for all elections and the processes of nomination of candidates.” 

  • Secondus demands resignation of IGP, INEC chairman

    ….As Atiku challenges Buhari to debate

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has demanded the immediate resignation of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris.

    Secondus also called on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmood Yakubu to resign his position without delay.

    Speaking on Thursday as the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the PDP, the opposition party chairman said the PDP has lost confidence in the capacity of the IGP and the INEC chairman to guarantee free and fair elections.

    He insisted that both the IGP and the INEC aided the All Progressives Congress (APC) in rigging the last Ekiti and Osun States governorship elections.

    Secondus warned that the PDP would not accept the outcome of rigged elections, adding that there would be a national crisis if the 2019 elections were rigged.

    Also speaking at the event, the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubabar, expressed his readiness to engage President Muhammadu Buhari in a public debate on key national issues in the 2019 elections.

    His speech was interrupted with a snide remark from an unidentified voice who asked if Atiku was referring to “Jubril”, an alleged non existent body double of President Buhari. The mischief has been trending in the social media space lately.

    Atiku however replied the voice, asking, “Which Jubril? Is it the one in Sudan or the one in Abuja?”, a remark that drew a derisive outburst from the crowd of party faithful present in the hall.

    The opposition presidential candidate further said that if elected, his administration would enthroned a policy of strict adherence to fiscal responsibility in the conduct of government business.

    He pledged to galvanize efforts through consultations to liberate the nation from the shackles of hunger, deprivation, killings and divisive tendencies.

    Atiku said, “Our aim is to work very hard and collectively liberate our nation from the shackles of hunger, starvation, deprivation, bloodletting, killings and division which bedevil us today. We must all work hard to return our nation to the path of harmony, peace and progress.

    “We need to be disciplined in our campaign because we are facing a desperate APC. The coming election may be the toughest presidential election since the return of democracy.

    “The APC has chosen personal attacks over issues, instead of campaigning on achievements. My campaign will be focused on issues not character assassination and personal attacks.

    Read Also: No move to impeach my former deputy – Tambuwal

    “We should be telling Nigerians what we want to do differently to get Nigeria working again. We must be vigilant at the polling units. We must demand the removal of the IGP. Elections are governed by laws and rules guiding the behaviour of all those involved”

    He urged President Buhari to sign the amended Electoral Act presently on his desk if he is truly for free, fair and credible elections.

    The PDP candidate made assurances of new templates for fiscal responsibility and productivity in every critical sector of national life.

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, who also spoke at the event urged party leaders and stakeholders, to remain united and strong as the elections draw nearer.

    Saraki said, “The people are with us and when the people are with us, God is with us, we will do it, we will succeed. I emphasise that we must stay strong because it is not going to be easy.

    “Let us remember when we were going for the convention this room was vibrating, there was tension in the country and people never believed that it was possible because it has never happened where people will go to a primary and come out with not even one person disagreeing.

    “I have said it many atimes that APC is not our opponent on the ballot paper; it is the security agents that are opponents on the ballot paper.

    “If you talk to ten Nigerians today, they will tell you yes your party is popular but they will rig it. What does that mean? We must stand, we must stand for free and credible election. We must stand for an election where people have the right to vote.

    Saraki, is the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, warned that there could be crisis in the country if the elections were not free, fair and credible.

    The party inaugurated a 154-member Campaign Council shortly after the NEC meeting, with Secondus named as chairman of the Council.

    Atiku is co-chairman of the Council while former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is co deputy chairman.

    Also yesterday, the PDP inaugurated its Presidential campaign council with Secondus as chairman and Atiku as co-chair man.

    Other members of the Council are the governors elected on the platform of the party, the party’s principal officers of the National Assembly, all the presidential aspirants that contested with Atiku, former Ministers, former principal officers of the National Assembly, members of the National Working Committee of the PDP, among others.

    At the inauguration of the campaign council, Secondus charged the team to brace up for the challenges ahead, adding that the task was to sell the agenda of the PDP across the entire country.

  • 2019: Abdulsalami Abubakar Committee drums support for INEC

    Former Head of State and Chairman,  National Peace Committee, Retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar has called for the support of stakeholders for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Abubakar made the call shortly after his committee met with management of INEC led by its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The former leader said political parties, journalists, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and security agencies were critical stakeholders needed by INEC to succeed in 2019 general elections.

    He said the outcome of the meeting indicated that INEC was ready for the elections, but there was need for stakeholders to support it and make the elections free, fair, credible and peaceful.

    “INEC briefed us on the preparations for elections, the challenges and what it is going to do in order to make sure that there is a peaceful, free and fair election.

    “ We are taking note. There are certain flash points where he (INEC Chairman) wants the peace committee to intervene in order to bring peace so that elections will be conducted.

    “On our part, we will do the best we can in order to have a sanitised political arena.

    “You members of the press have also a role and duty to educate our people and the politicians so that when they go on campaigning, they campaign on issues.

    Read Also: 2019: INEC assures PWDs of full participation

     

    “There should be politics without bitterness, there should not be any rancour,’’ he said.

    Abubakar also called on journalists to ensure that citizens were adequately educated to avoid being used as thugs during campaigns and elections.

    He also called for the need for Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).He stressed the need to sensitise the people to avoid ballot box snatching and all type of hooliganism during elections.

    “Our people should realise that peace is very paramount in any society. There must be peace before elections; there must be peace before we have country.

    “So, I implore you to know that people have the tendency to believe it in total what they read and what they see.

    “Make sure you educate our people and help in voter education and all the necessary things to be done so that there will be peaceful elections,’’ he said.

    Abubakar said the next stage for the committee was to meet chairmen and secretaries of political parties and discuss the way forward.

    After the meeting with political parties, we are going to draw a Memoradum of Understanding (MOU) for peace and tranquillity.

    “This we hope will be signed by all the presidential candidates and the chairmen of the registered parties.’’

    The former head of state added that the committee would interact with political parties to ensure that there was no hate speech, and issue based campaign where there was no name calling among political parties.

    He added that “Each Nigerian has a role to play and I hope they will play their parts.’’

     

    (NAN)

  • 2019: We’re monitoring campaign closely – INEC

    …Expresses satisfaction so far

    ..Vow to arrest, prosecute perpetrator of Kwara violence

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has said that it is closely monitoring the ongoing campaign by various political parties and candidates ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The Campaign for the 2019 Presidential election officially commenced on Sunday 13 November 2018 as provided for by the Electoral Act.

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, made the disclosure Wednesday during the meeting of INEC management team with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from the 26 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Read Also:INEC Chair to Nigerians: we ‘ll conduct credible poll

    Yakubu in his opening remark said the commission was happy with the trend of the campaign, which has been on policies rather than personalities; hoping that the trend will continue that way.

    “The Commission is committed to closely monitoring the campaigns pursuant to our statutory mandate and to ensure compliance with the extant laws and regulations. We are pleased that the focus in the last few days since the commencement of the campaigns has been on policies rather than personalities. We sincerely hope it remains this way,” he said.

    The INEC boss who also used the opportunity to react to the Kwara state bye-election at the weekend, said vowed that the commission will arrest and prosecute those involved in the attack on its staff and destruction of electoral materials in the Kwara state at the weekend.

    Yakubu also said the commission will work with the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators.

    He said: “On a sad note, the Commission lost four (4) members of staff in Kogi State and one (1) in Edo State to road accidents last week. Similarly, two (2) of our staff survived road accidents in Katsina State during the bye-election last weekend and one (1) election duty staff suffered a head injury following attack by hoodlums who destroyed election materials at a polling unit in Kwara State.

    “We are deeply saddened by these incidents. While we pray for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives and wish the injured a speedy recovery, we will work with the security agencies to ensure the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the attack on our staff and vandalisation of election materials. ”

    Speaking on the window for political parties to substitute their candidates ahead of the 2019 elections, Yakubu said, “For Governorship and State Assembly elections, the submission of nomination forms closed on 2nd November 2018 while the last day for substitution and withdrawal of candidates is 1th December 2018.”

    He also reiterated that the Area Council elections in FCT will hold on March 2, 2019, along with the governorship and state Assembly elections.

    He also disclosed that the list of candidates for elections will be published in its Federal Capital Territory office and also at the six Area Councils on Wednesday, 21st November, 2018.

    Speaking on the meeting with RECs he said the meeting will provide opportunity for the electoral body to review the progress on collection of outstanding Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    He said, “At today’s meeting, we will also discuss with the RECs the progress made on the collection of outstanding Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) by citizens as well as new modalities for a more efficient administration of the collection process. Similarly, the meeting will consider the recruitment and training of election duty staff, discuss the on-going review of the framework for voting by Internally Displaced Persons (lDPs), explore additional assistive measures in support of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the electoral process, examine additional ways to safeguard the sanctity of the ballot against the menace of vote-buying at polling units, appraise issues relating to electoral logistics and generally assess facilities and preparations for the General Election. “