The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nkwachukwu Orji

  • Ngige, APC petition INEC over alleged stolen materials

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over alleged stolen electoral materials meant for two constituencies.

    The petition was addressed to the Resident Electoral commissioner REC in Anambra state, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji.

    Addressing reporters on Saturday, Ngige said the two constituencies were Ihiala I and Awka South I, stressing electoral materials kept in the custody of the local government chairmen were stolen.

    According to him:  “So far, there are reported cases of pilfering of INEC materials at Ihiala I and Awka South I, where our party agents have reported that materials kept in custody of the Local Government Chairmen were no longer complete on the morning of the election at the RAC.

    “We have petitioned the INEC through the REC, bringing his attention to that situation otherwise the elections in those two places would have been compromised ab initio”

    Read Also: Obiano, Ngige fail to deliver Buhari in Anambra

    “So we are on standby, we are waiting for the votes to be counted in many places and for elections to come in.”

    On the election, the Minister said: “Anambra is not doing governorship, we are doing legislative House and it has somehow affected the turnout of voters”

    “But be that as it may, it’s a very important election as it affords the Anambra people the opportunity to form one arm of the government, State Assembly which is for making state laws and which is the ambit of governance that is nearer to the people.”

    However, he said Card reader was not much of a problem this time, adding INEC should look into it very seriously as majority were still rejecting peoples thumbs.

     

     

  • Anambra: INEC to replace NYSC members in conflict areas

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra on Wednesday said it would post stand-by ad-hoc staff to the conflict areas of the state for Saturday’s House of Assembly elections.

    The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, dropped the hint at the CBN Awka office during the distribution of sensitive materials ahead of the poll.

    Nkwachukwu was reacting to the statement by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the state that corps members would not be posted for election duty in Idemili and Ogbaru areas of the state.

    The state NYSC coordinator, Kehinde Aremu, had said that the decision to withdraw corps members from those areas was based on the directives from the headquarters barring them from volatile areas.

    But the REC said the decision would not pose any challenge to the exercise, noting that the electoral umpire have more than enough trained staff to replace the corps members with.

    Read Also: PDP takes protest to INEC

    He revealed that the commission had invited a total of 9,000 persons for the training, but said over 18,000 reported and were eventually trained for the exercise.

    He said, “I received a letter from the NYSC saying it won’t deploy corps members to conflict prone areas. But it’s not a source of worry to us.

    “We have lots of people in our data base standing by for engagement. Some even come to the polling unit uninvited, waiting for opportunities to work.”

    Orji also debunked allegation that some of the ad-hoc staff involved in the last election did not undergo training, resulting to their inability to effectively manipulate the smart card readers.

    He said it would be an act of irresponsibility on the part of the commission to engage untrained hands for such sensitive assignments.

    “I don’t believe we can hire people, train them and dump them to use those we didn’t train. We’re not that irresponsible,” he added.

  • Why INEC must go beyond credible elections – Cleric

    Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Anambra state, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor has applauded the steady improvement of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in the state in conducting a free, fair and credible election.

    He said the progress was more evidenced during the last governorship election where the outcome of the results was not contested.

    Speaking during an advocacy visit of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, the cleric however stressed the need for the commission to insist on credible poll that would not only be fair and transparent, but must be acceptable by all.

    He said the acceptability of the outcome of credible elections by all parties involved would not only guarantee peace, but would compel those with intention to contest the results to drop the plan.

    “The INEC has improved tremendously in recent times. During the last governorship election, the credibility of the election, to a large extent, reduced the tension the exercise was often characterised with.

    “Even the politicians who knew their capabilities, but still went ahead to put up false impression of winning, had to own up defeat when they saw the outcome of the election,” he said.

    Read Also: Why INEC ordered rerun in Osun, by witness

    According to Ezeokafor, when elections were conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner, even the doubting Thomases would have no option than to accept its outcome in good faith.

    While calling on the electoral umpire not to create suspicion that the results were being “cooked” during the collation process, the Bishop appealed to politicians to be ready to accept defeat in the spirit of sportsmanship.

    “There is no doubt that your responsibilities and challenges are enormous while expectations from you are high. You must be prepared to meet those expectations.

    “Those participating in the forthcoming elections should also be willing to accept the outcome of the elections.

    “It will be catastrophic for those who lost not to accept defeat and allow the winner to concentrate in the art of governance.

    He also called on the electorate to vote according to their conscience, adding that “it is only in the selection of leaders that Nigerians have the opportunity of reshaping and making decisions about the future of the country.”

  • Help us douse tension, INEC begs religious leaders

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra state has sought the assistance of religious leaders in the state in checkmating the tension and anxiety associated with elections in Nigeria.

    The State Resident Electoral Officer, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, made the appeal on Wednesday while paying separate advocacy visits to the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor and his Anglican counterpart, Rt. Rev. Alexander Ibezim.

    He said the appeal was necessary in view of envisaged fear of compromise on the part of the commission as a result increased number of registered political parties and candidates participating in the exercise.

    Orji underscored the place of patience and tolerance among the politicians and electorate while the process of election collation lasted.

    According to him, talking to the politicians and electorate who constitute majority of their congregation would go a long way in reducing the tension before and during the exercise

    He said, “There is no doubt that the collation and release of result will take more time with 73 out of 91 registered political parties contesting for presidency.

    Read Also: Imo electorate task INEC on credible poll

    “That of 2015 presidential election took up to Wednesday to announce. This time, the duration will be longer which will most likely trigger anxiety and mistrust among the electorate.

    “That is why we need your assistance in dousing the tension by calming the nerves of politicians and electorate, many of who are your members that the process will not be manipulated.

    “As religious leaders, you are in the best position to relate our message to your congregation.”

    Responding, the two clerics commended the commissioner for the visit, assuring him of their prayers, as well as relating the message to members of their congregation.

  • Electoral violence no reason for voter apathy – INEC

    Barely three weeks to the general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra has called for active participation among women in the electoral process towards a successful poll.

    The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji made the call at the weekend, in Awka during a one day seminar themed, “mitigating violence against women in electoral process”.

    He said no form of electoral violence was enough to deter women from exercising their franchise before and during the elections.

    Describing women as critical stakeholders in the conduct of credible poll, the INEC boss noted that the commission placed high premuim on them, assuring them of level playing ground.

    According to Orji, out of the 84 million registered voters across the country, over 47.1million were women, saying it would be counterproductive if they stayed away on the election day.

    Read Also: INEC needs 1.2m personnel for 2019 polls

    He further urged them to disabuse their minds over the erroneous impression that election was all about war.

    He said, “There is always the tendency to see election as a time of war which is purely meant for only the men.

    “People keep remembering the dark old days without looking at the brigther future.

    “There is no doubt that violence is one major element that scare women away from exercising their franchise. It is time we disabuse such mentality.”

  • 2019: INEC ready for primaries–REC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) says it is ready for effective monitoring of the primaries of the 91 political parties.

    Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra, said this on Friday in Awka at the quarterly meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.

    Orji said that though the number of political parties recently increased to 91, the commission had put in place measures for effective monitoring of the primaries.

    “We have put the security agencies on alert on the up-coming parties’ primaries in the state and I believe security will not be an issue during the primaries,’’ he said.

    Orji, however, urged members of political parties to be peaceful during the exercise.

    He also said about  100,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were yet to be collected in the state, adding that the meeting deliberated on ways to step up action for speedy collection of the cards.

    Read Also: INEC vows to tackle vote-buying

    “It is disturbing that we still have this number of PVCs uncollected in spite of awareness by INEC to make the owners of these cards to pick them up,’’ he said.

    Mr Mike Okoli, the state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, gave an assurance that all security measures had been put in place for primaries and the 2019 general elections.

    “Even if the INEC says that election is coming up next week, for us in the security sector,  I feel we are battle ready to make sure that things work out properly,’’  he said.

    Mr Aremu Kehinde, the state’s Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), told newsmen that the scheme was committed to the security of corps members to be used as ad hoc staff during the elections.

    Kehinde, however, said that he was pleased with the arrangement made so far for corps members, assuring voters that they would be patriotic in their conduct during the exercise.

  • Anambra: REC assures on credible polls

    Anambra: REC assures on credible polls

    Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, the Resident Electoral Commissioner ( REC ) in Anambra, on Thursday assured that the governorship election slated for Nov. 18 in the state would be fair and credible.

    The REC, who gave the assurance in an interview in Awka, said that the commission had finalised all arrangements for the election.

    Orji said the commission had provided better welfare packages to its staff and admonished them “ to give citizens the best election in Nigeria’s history.’’

    He urged voters to report any Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) staff found compromising the process during and after the election, for appropriate disciplinary action.

    Orji stressed that any INEC staff proven to have engaged in electoral fraud would face the full wrath of the law.

    He said that the commission had distributed all non-sensitive materials for the election while all sensitive materials were intact and would be distributed at the appropriate time.

    According to him, the commission will not accord undue treatment to any of the candidates and urged all stakeholders to abide by the rules governing the election.

    He admonished voters to be civil while discharging their civic responsibilities so as to ensure a peaceful and credible election.

    NAN

  • INEC chairman warns Anambra staff against electoral fraud

    INEC chairman warns Anambra staff against electoral fraud

    Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday warned the Anambra staff of the commission against involvement in electoral fraud.

    Yakubu gave the warning when he addressed the staff of the commission at the INEC state headquarters Awka ahead of Nov.18 governorship election.

    The INEC boss said that anybody caught in electoral malpractice would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

    “Every INEC worker must ensure that we all achieve our set goal of making Anambra Nov.18 governorship election flawless and historic,’’ he said.

    Yakubu said that Nigerians and indeed people outside are watching INEC in its resolve to make Anambra governorship election the best in the history of the commission.

    “INEC will be holding two elections in Anambra on Nov. 18, the governorship election and the state assembly election for Idemili North state constituency you must discharge your duties diligently.

    “There are many people out there working seriously to see that the commission fails in its commitment to record free, fair and credible election and you must have this in mind.

    “INEC will get rid of you if you do the wrong thing, and you are aware that those caught in the web of such negative act during the conduct of 2015 election are still facing the music’’, he said.

    He said that he had about one month ago provided money and other logistics needed for the smooth conduct of the  election and advised unit heads to work closely with their subordinates.

    “The deployment of materials to local governments will commence on Wednesday this week while the sensitive materials would be shared a day before the election.

    “You must make sure you get to the polling units by 8am on the election to make sure that things work according to plan’’, he said.

    Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, assured the national chairman that staff of the commission  were committed to ensuring a hitch-free election.

    NAN

  • INEC closes voter registration Aug.15 – Anambra Rec.

    INEC closes voter registration Aug.15 – Anambra Rec.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra, Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, on Thursday said the ongoing continuous voter registration would end on Aug. 15 in the state.

    Orji disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka.

    He said that the exercise was conducted at the local government level and all the 326 electoral wards across the state,  to enable eligible voters register before the closing date.

    The REC who put the total registered voters in the state at 2.42 million, expressed the hope that more people would be captured.

    Orji assured that the commission had deployed all necessary facilities for the voter registration.

    According to him, people should use the opportunity to transfer their registration centres, collect their permanent voter cards and have their lost cards replaced.

    On the forthcoming governorship election, the REC said the commission would deliver transparent, free, fair, and credible election.

    Orji therefore encouraged the electorates to ignore reports making the round that election would not hold, stressing that INEC was fully prepared for the polls.

    “Come out en-masse to perform your civic duty and have a voice in your governance,” he urged registered voters in the state.