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Tag: polls

  • MASSOB shuts down Enugu, says Jega must go

    MASSOB shuts down Enugu, says Jega must go

    Members of the pan-Biafran organisation, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Friday marched round major streets of Enugu calling for the removal of INEC’s chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega.

    Displaying placards of various inscriptions, the pro-Biafrans, most of whom clad in navy blue uniform with the Biafran rising sun insignia assembled at Edinburgh Road, New Layout, from where they ‎trooped to the major streets of Enugu chanting solidarity songs.

    Some of the placards read: “Jega must go”, “Jega has compromised”, “No election with Jega on seat”, “Jega is not impartial” etc.

    They were led by their Enugu zonal chairmen, Mrs. Augustina Ugwuoke, Ben Ekwunugo and E. Ilogu in the peaceful protest march.

    The MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike in a telephone chat told our correspondent that ‎: “We organising the protest against Jega because he is biased and cannot conduct a credible election for Nigerians.

    “We know that he is in favour of APC and if allowed to conduct the elections,  he will definitely favour the party and when that happens,  there will be crisis and people will die.

    “The crisis will and can even lead to a war and we don’t want bloodshed.

    “We are not hiding the fact that we are supporting Jonathan because of the burial he gave to our leader, Ojukwu and therefore we are sure that if the election is free and fair that Jonathan will win.”

  • Polls: Jega caution politicians against wrong attitude

    Polls: Jega caution politicians against wrong attitude

    Ahead of the forthcoming general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega has warned that the attitude of political parties and their candidates will go a long way to determine if the elections are peace or not.

    INEC boss also stressed that the expectation of the entire world is that we get it right in the March/April 2015 general elections.

    Meanwhile, the Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yunusa Tank has advised INEC to look into all the observations made by various political parties regarding the Card Readers and also ensure 100 per cent production of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    INEC Boss, Prof. Attahiru Jega and IPAC chairman, Yunusa  Tanko spoke Thursday during the meeting between the commission and political parties.

    Jega told the gathering of representatives of the 28 political parties that the world was watching to see Nigeria conducting not just free, fair and transparent elections but peaceful one.

    He said: “The eyes of the whole world are on all of us in term of ensuring that we conduct not just free, fair and credible elections but also peaceful election.

    “The altitude or disposition of parties and candidates is what to a large extent determine whether we have peaceful election or not.”

    While condemning the unnecessary tension caused by actions of some political parties, Jega called on parties and candidates to engage positively.

    According to him: “I particularly call on political parties and candidates to ensure that they engage positively in the electoral process.

    “It is unfortunate that by actions of some political parties, or some candidates or their supporters a lot of tension has unnecessarily been raised relating to 2015 general elections.

    “It is also unfortunate that we have witnessed conflict and violence in the process of elections campaign, and really these are some of the event that we should all work hard to ensure that this negative tendencies do not in any way compromise the conduct of the elections.’’

    He also reminded parties of the peace accord assented to by their candidates.

    Jega also assured the parties and Nigerians that the commission will continue to remain non partisan; adding that INEC was committed to conduct the 2015 general elections and make it the best elections so far in the history of our country.
    He stressed, “We believe that we are adequately prepared for these elections because with six week extension we have added value to the process to ensure that the objective of Nigerians of conducting credible election is satisfy.
    “We on our part will continue to do our best to ensure that we are non partisan and free from all political parties and candidates.”

    He further added: “We have come a very long way in term of making the electoral process very transparent from the distribution of materials to the actually conduct of the elections from the polling units up to the collation or tabulation of results.

    “I will like to use the opportunity to reassure all Nigerians that INEC are committed to conduct the 2015 general elections and make it the best elections so far in the history of our country.

    “We believe that we are adequately prepared for these elections because with six week extension we have added value to the process to ensure that the objective of Nigerians of conducting credible election is satisfy.

    “We also want to urge all Nigerians to contribute to the success of the elections. I have always say that the contribution of every stakeholder, individual will add tremendous value to the country’s election.”

    Jega who also described the role of party agents as very central warned parties on the need to “have very credible agents who can participate in these processes, not only to act to the transparency of the process but to ensure that if irregularities occur, they could be easily identified and the evidence would be there to prove that this has happen.

    “We also want to urge political parties and candidates to pay attention to the selection of credible people as agents of political parties.

    IPAC Chairman in his remark urged the commission to work on all the observations made on the card readers.

    He said: “While we welcome the assurance given by INEC, security Chiefs on the above three items, we will lean our voice on the observation of the card readers which is to be a check on the PVCs and enhance stability towards the elections.

    “We advise strongly that all the observations made by various political parties should be look into by solving the problems especially on finger identification and time consumed in the process of accreditation.

    “All this statement are been made with the best of intention to support INEC to give Nigerians free and credible and violence elections.
    “The political parties are committed to continue to drum the beat of violent free elections.”
    He also assured the commission that the parties “would soon be on the street again to continue in that direction”
    We made this statement to ensure that democracy in Nigeria has come to stay.
    Tanko also called on INEC to ensure 100 per cent production of the Permanent Voter Cards, while at the same time encourage maximum collection of these PVCs.

  • Still on military deployment for polls

    SIR: A major issue dotting our political landscape is whether or not the military should be deployed to provide security at the coming polls. As accusations and counter-accusations continue to trail the proposal, it is pertinent to state that the fact that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has supported the move does not make it right. The courts have even ruled against such move.

    Kindly let us recall the gory past of military excessiveness. For example, a few hours before last year’s month of August Osun governorship election day, over 10,000 battle-ready soldiers were reportedly drafted to mount surveillance on all the roads leading to the state from the boundaries of the neighbouring Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara, Oyo and Ogun states, thereby putting the state under siege. This resulted into untold hardships for the people occasioned by queues of parked vehicles and stretched long distances from various entry points.

    Military deployment is nothing but a subtle invitation for soldiers to supplant democracy. In the past, there had been reported cases of harassment and intimidation of civilians by soldiers.  This is where the Federal Government should be very careful not to give the impression of taking sides and abusing state security outfits, thereby fuelling the age-long fears that the military has been seriously politicised. In the past, soldiers have been accused of intimidating voters during elections. This should not be. Military men are not in anyway superior to the civilians. They are public servants and as such, are expected to respect civil rule and comport themselves in a submissive and dignified manner. They should carry out their duties with utmost patriotism. Nigerians should be watchful and shun violence in the face of any provocation. They should go about their normal business without fear.

    To ensure free and fair coverage in the coming elections, international observers, party agents and civil societies group should be given free hand to monitor election proceedings. The media, being the Fourth Estate of the Realm, should be allowed to perform its societal obligation under a convivial atmosphere as the watchdog in deepening democracy. Openness remains the best way to enthroning democratic credentials. This will involve granting true independence to the electoral body to discharge its duties. The Nigeria Police Force should be better equipped with adequate funds, personnel and requisite training to carry out its statutory functions now being usurped by the army.

    Above all, the politicians should play the game by its rules bearing in mind that nobody gains anything by engaging in do-or-die politicking. Or, is political office no longer an avenue for service delivery? The planned military deployment – in clear defiance of court orders – may eventually not translate into victory for any party because voters this time around would vote for candidates that could positively turn things around for them and make the nation a better place. What should really matter most is the people’s unwavering resolution and strong-will to get the best, which the barrel of gun can never suppress.

    • Adewale Kupoluyi 

    Federal University of Agriculture,

    Abeokuta (FUNAAB),

  • Polls: Anxiety grips African leaders, others over Nigeria

    Polls: Anxiety grips African leaders, others over Nigeria

    AFRICAN leaders are troubled by prospects of violence in Nigeria after the March 28 and April 11 elections, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    Specifically, the anxiety in and out of the continent is about:

    •whether the elections, which were rescheduled from February 14 and February 28, will hold;

    •the likelihood of violence; and

    •the acceptability of the results.

    Former South Africa President Thabo Mbeki has met with President Goodluck Jonathan and All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari on the fears of world leaders about the elections, stressing the need for a violence-free exercise.

    He also visited former military president Gen. Ibrahim Babangida at his Hilltop Mansion in Minna, Niger State yesterday.

    Mbeki extracted a commitment from the duo that the outcome of the polls will be accepted – in line with “legal and democratic norms”, a source told The Nation yesterday.

    Mbeki, who met with Jonathan on Sunday, was at Gen. Buhari’s Jabi Road home in Kaduna, also on Sunday.

    He was accompanied to the two sessions by a former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

    Mbeki and Abdulsalami left for Abuja after a photo session with Gen. buhari without speaking to reporters.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Mbeki’s visit had to do with the anxiety in and out of the continent over the general election.

    “There are apprehensions on whether or not the poll will hold; the likelihood of violence and the acceptability of the results of the elections.

    “So, the ex-South African President came to extract commitment from the key candidates that Nigeria will not be thrown into turmoil.

    “He has been on a peace mission to ensure a free and fair poll in the country. He wants any loser to seek redress in court and not on the streets.”

    Another source said the “recourse to hate politics was disturbing to African leaders who saddled Mbeki with the responsibility of  intervening.

    “You know Mbeki is playing a crucial role in mediation efforts in Darfur and Sudan as Chairperson of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP).

    Mbeki reportedly said the March 28 and April 11 dates for the elections should not be tampered with.

    He was also said to have asked Nigeria to drop the winner-takes-all approach in managing the aftermath of the poll.

    A highly-placed source said: “From the manner Mbeki spoke in Kaduna, he appeared to have come on the mandate of the United Nations. His message was in line with that of the international community.

    “He emphasized the need to respect the Constitution and made a strong case for a free and fair poll.

    “He said all parties must ensure there is no violence during or after the elections.

    “Mbeki said given the level of democracy on the continent, parties must avoid a situation of winner takes all.

    “He said if the ruling party loses or wins or if the poll is in favour of the opposition, the system should be accommodating for all. I think the PDP is afraid of losing and it might have been pushing this.

    Buhari was reported to have  said: “Given my antecedents, I am not a violent person or politician. It is on record that I have always gone to court every time I lost election.

    “I don’t believe in violence, I follow due process of the law. I did not promote or sponsor violence in 2011. Even in 2011, I went to court to challenge the outcome of the poll and I abided by the decision of the court.

    “No responsible leader will direct his followers to embark on violence.

    “We should make sure that the election is free, transparent and fair. Once the process is fair, Nigerians will accept the outcome and you will be surprised how they will respect the decision of the voters.”

    “If you see what happened in Rwanda in 1994, no one will want either pre or post election violence in Nigeria,” the source added.

    But a third source, who is a former governor, said the trip might have some personal undertone to save Nigeria’s democracy from collapse.

    “He is an elder statesman and he is concerned about the electoral process in the country,” the source added.

    Jonathan’s and Buhari’s camps have remained silent on the meetings.

    Mbeki served nine years as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from June 14, 1999 to September 24, 2008.

  • Court grants mandamus to activist to compel INEC not to shift polls

    Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court Abuja has granted leave to a human rights activist, Mr. Richard Akinnola, to seek for an order of Mandamus compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Service Chiefs and the National Security Adviser from further postponing the March 28 and April 11 elections.

    The permission was granted following an ex parte motion filed by the activist and argued by the Festus Keyamo Chambers.

    In his substantive suit, the activist is seeking for an Order of Mandamus compelling INEC to conduct the scheduled March 28 elections, irrespective of “the advice, position or opposition of the 3rd to 6th respondents (Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval staff and the National Security Adviser.

    He is also seeking for an order compelling the Inspector General of police “to provide men and materials for the protection and security of the men and materials of the 1st respondent (INEC), during the conduct of the election”.

    Akinnola is also seeking for on order of injunction restraining the service chiefs from further interfering with INE’s conduct of the 2015 elections.

    The suit has been adjourned to March 23.

  • Polls: No going back on Card Readers, says INEC

    Polls: No going back on Card Readers, says INEC

    ‘Policemen’ seize PVCs from owners

    Cards collection extended to March 22

    Opponents of Card Reader got yesterday some bad news: the machine will be used for the March 28 and April 11 elections.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did a test run of the machine last Saturday. It was largely successful. This, said an INEC chief, has raised the agency’s confidence in the machine, which it insists will curb rigging.

    The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is leading the opposition against the machine, saying it is new and untested.

    INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega will meet with Resident Electoral Commissioners on Wednesday in Abuja to discuss the Saturday  mock election, especially the use of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    Contrary to reports, only one case of a weak  Card Reader was recorded at INEC’s Situation Room on Saturday.

    INEC yesterday extended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from March 8 to March 22.

    As at March 4, the commission had recorded 80.3 percent collection of the PVCs nationwide.

    A National Commissioner, who spoke with our correspondent, said the electoral body would not drop Card Readers.

    He said: “Nothing happened during the mock election on Saturday to warrant going back on the use of Card Readers for the general elections. The deployment of the Card Readers was successful and even international observers from the UN have attested to it.

    “Contrary to some claims, only one case of Card Reader challenge was recorded at our Situation Room and it was a human thing.

    “And concerning some alleged hitches, there were guidelines  on what to do at any polling unit to make sure that an eligible voter is allowed to exercise his or her right.”

    Responding to a question, the highly-placed source said: “The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega will meet with the National Commissioners and all the 37 Resident Electoral Commissioners on Wednesday in Abuja on the outcome of the Mock Election in 12 states and the use of Card Readers.”

    The INEC chairman’s Chief Press Secretary Mr. Kayode Idowu, told our correspondent that the mock election was “largely successful”.

    “The flaws being claimed were anticipated. The states where fingerprints were not authenticated had the PVC incident form procedure, it was agreed with political parties that the form will be filled,” Idowu said.

    Meanwhile, the deadline for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) was yesterday extended to March 22.

    Prior to the extension, the collection of PVCs, which had reached 80.3 per cent as at March 4, would have ended yesterday.

    A statement signed by Idowu said: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across the country by additional two weeks.

    “The collection will continue until March 22nd, 2015, superseding the earlier deadline of March 08th 2015.

    “This latest extension offers the last opportunity for duly registered persons to collect their PVCs before the general elections scheduled for March 28th and April 11th, 2015.

    “INEC hereby calls on registered persons that are yet to collect their PVCs to use this last opportunity in doing so, in order to participate in the forthcoming general elections.”

    The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties(CNPP) yesterday asked INEC to stick to the use of Card Readers.

    The conference, which gave the advice in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, urged INEC to take note of the few lapses noted and improve on the device, so as to engender free, fair and transparent election.

    The statement said: “The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP ) wishes to unequivocally state that we stand on the use of Magnetic Card Reader for accreditation of voters in the 2015 general elections.

    “The mock test of the Magnetic Card Reader, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), even if the picture is the only identification matrix, has further emboldened and reinforced our resolve to adopt the device as the best device to avoid mangling and manipulating the electoral process.

    “INEC should take note of the few lapses noted and improve on the device, so as to engender free, fair and transparent election. This will put paid to those who would want to repeat in Medical School after failing.

    “We are making this declaration because in the absence of genuine reason, we adopt a device which has been used to conduct free, fair and transparent elections in many countries, like the US, UK, Brazil,  Ghana, and the 2014 Indian general  elections, an election where 600 million Indian voters voted seamlessly.

    “It is regrettable that those who a few years back, declared that telephone is not for the Nigerian poor are behind the call for the rejection of Magnetic Card Reader technology for accreditation of Nigerian voters.

    “We had thought that the lesson today that both the groundnut seller and the rich are using telephone is enough lesson on adaptation of new technology to advance our electoral process, which in the past was marred by irregularities.

    “CNPP concurs with the valid evidence that the use of Magnetic Card Reader for accreditation  of voters will minimize, if not eradicate ballot- box snatching, thumb printing of ballot papers and snatching of result sheets.”

    The CNPP faulted the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) for its hysteria on Card Readers.

    The statement added: “We are therefore at a loss why the largest party in Africa – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – a party that has ruled our dear country for the last 16 years – is jittery and enveloped with hysteria over the use of the Magnetic Card Reader to advance our electoral process.

    “To worsen matters, the PDP is desperately recruiting other political parties in this ignoble, undemocratic and unpatriotic onslaught on the nerve of our fledgling democracy.

    “Accordingly, we take exception to our membership political parties that are wittingly or unwittingly against the deployment of Magnetic Card Reader, hence threatening the survival of our fledgling democracy and, by extension, the corporate existence of our dear country.

    “We have anxiously noted the nefarious,  unethical and undemocratic agitations of some political parties in league with the PDP for either the removal of Professor Attahiru Jega or dumping of Magnetic Reader for no just cause.

    “Penultimate week they canvassed with the PDP for postponement of the 14th February presidential elections and it was granted, yesterday they headed for court, asking that Magnetic Card Reader should be discarded and today they are not only canvassing for another postponement, but querying the technical competence of the Card Reader and Jega’s head.

    “The mock test invalidates their weak argument. May we ask, if the PDP leadership  is sure of victory, will they have called for postponement of the 14th February presidential election date and suspension of Jega or the rejection of Magnetic Card Reader?

    “Or is it morbid election-phobia stimulated in recognition of the core ingredient of election in liberal democracy, which is electoral referendum on the performance of the incumbent, which is making PDP jittery?

    “In sum, the CNPP will eject membership political parties that engage in unethical and undemocratic agitation and embark on mass action, if either Jega is removed, Card Reader deleted or even the Temporary Voters Card added for accreditation.”

  • Anti-Jega plot crashes as Presidency hits dead end

    Anti-Jega plot crashes as Presidency hits dead end

    LEGAL experts have told the Presidency the bitter truth about Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega — he cannot be sent on terminal leave.

    There are two reasons for the legal opinion. They are that:

    •no law or regulation compels political appointees to proceed on terminal leave; and

    •the timing is “inauspicious and not strategic”.

    Faced with the legal obstacle, the Presidency may have dumped the option of asking Jega to go on leave.

    Besides, President Goodluck Jonathan has said although he has the power to remove Jega, the INEC chief has not done anything to warrant his removal.

    A top government official yesterday said Jega will not be removed or asked to go on leave.

    But the comment of the supervising Minister of Information, Mr. Edem Duke, has caused disquiet in the cabinet.

    Some ministers believe that Duke’s “inexplicit response to questions on Jega’s fate” last Friday has been heating up the polity.

    Duke said although the President has no plan to sack Jega, ‘’this is not to say that, if it is time for INEC chairman to naturally exit his office, then the natural course of public service rule will not take place when he has reached the age of retirement or exhausted his tenure.”

    According to a source, the legal advice emphatically said “political appointees are not subject to terminal leave”.

    The source added: “I think we have been having this apprehension on Jega’s fate because of the politics which beclouded non-renewal of the tenure of ex-INEC Chairman Prof. Maurice Iwu.

    “I think in managing Iwu’s exit, those behind it did not look at the legality of the process in asking him to proceed on leave.”

    The source also said the Presidency was advised against allowing Jega to go on terminal leave because the “timing of the agitation is inauspicious and non-strategic”.

    A top government official said: “President Goodluck Jonathan will not remove or ask Jega to proceed on terminal leave. He has told the nation of his position and he will stand by his words.”

    At INEC, however, a woman National Commissioner is still feeling bad that she was linked to the plot against Jega.

    “The National Commissioner has been psychologically disturbed that she is being associated with treachery.

    “Were it not for pressure, she would have addressed the press with some commissioners on why they are standing by Jega,” a source said.

    Duke’s comment is said to have caused disquiet in the cabinet.

    “Everyone is disturbed that Edem Duke was not circumspect enough because as a Minister of Information, he ought to know that the press will take note of what is said, intended or unsaid,” a source said, adding:

    “No one is happy that the story about Jega has been bordering on alleged plot to remove or ask him to go on terminal leave by the President. We believe as cabinet members, we should also not heat up the polity or create an image crisis for this administration. If you have noticed, the debate on Jega’s fate heightened after Duke’s briefing last Friday.

    “Not all members of the cabinet approved of Duke’s comments, which left a few things hanging.”

    Jega has shelved today’s meeting with the 37 Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC).

    Instead, the INEC chairman has deployed all National Commissioners and the 37 REC in 12 states for the mock election taking place on Saturday.

    The states selected are: Ekiti and Lagos(South-West); Anambra and Ebonyi(South-East); Delta and Rivers(South-South); Kano and Kebbi(North-West); Bauchi and Taraba(North-East); and Niger and Nasarawa(North-Central).

    The mock election will be used for “field testing of the functionality of the Smart Card Readers”.

    A National Commissioner said: “All National Commissioners and RECs are going to take part in the mock election which we are using to measure our preparation for the general election.

    “The session between INEC chairman and RECs  will now hold next week to enable the commission to consider the report on the mock election.”

    House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal said we cannot play the ostrich with the plot to scuttle the elections.“It is clear that some people are not interested in a free and fair election.”

    Tambuwal, who spoke when he received a delegation from the Situation Room Advocacy also condemned any move to install an interim government which he said will amount to a coup because it has no place in the constitution.

    Also yesterday, the House of Representatives  sounded a note of warning to President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration on the danger of removing the INEC chairman before the general elections.

    To show its seriousness, the threatened to initiate court action within the country and at the International Criminal Court (ICC), over supposed plots to remove Jega and shift the March 28th and April 11th elections.

    The resolution of the House followed the adoption of the prayers of a motion by Hon. Ali Ahmad, Chairman House Committee on Justice,

    The “Motion on threat to further tamper with the status quo arrangements for the 2015 general elections” was seconded by Hon. Goni Bukar

    The House urged “the political class, government of the federation and of states and security agencies to heed the warning of imminent and present danger associated with any interference with the existing schedules of the general elections”.

    It said it will “hold personally accountable at domestic judicial forum or at the International Criminal Court “ any person or Organisation that foists on INEC any decision or action whatsoever, including unconstitutional attempt to remove the current INEC chairman, that has the effect of making it impracticable for the elections to hold on 28th March and 11th April, 2015”.

    Arguing the motion, Ahmad  said the initial postponement of the general elections for six weeks due to security concerns related to the Boko Haram insurgency has further heightened the tempo for pre-election violence.

    He expressed concern on the possibility, threat and insinuation to precipitate actions that would cause further alteration to the status quo arrangement and regulation of the general elections

    Ahmad said: “That such threats to tamper with the status quo may take several forms including , but not limited to, illegal removal of the current INEC Chairman.

    “That there is already documented evidence from several sources that any change in status quo arrangements, especially removal of the INEC chairman, presents a possibility of violence and would occasion the sowing of seeds of a major crisis,” he said.

    The lawmaker said civil society organisations and lawyers, including usually reticent Senior Advocates of Nigeria have sounded “a note of warning” and threatened a “showdown”.

    According to him, such removal will be unconstitutional, “given the decision of the Supreme Court that removal of the chairman or members of such an independent electoral body as INEC pursuant to S.157 (1) of the Constitution can only be achieved when two things happen, viz: (a) for his inability to discharge the functions of the office, or ( b) for misconduct, as determined by 2/3 majority of the Senate ( Governor of Kwara State v. Ojiabor. 2007).”

    Ahmad said such deliberately induced violence “ may snowball as it did in 2011 post-election period into widespread or systematic attack, persecution, arson, murder, thereby amounting to serious crimes of concern to the international community, as contained in Article 5 of the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, to which Nigeria is a signatory.”

    However, the Deputy Leader of the House, Leo Ogor, objected to the motion, saying that it was “totally speculative” at best and should not even be entertained, not to mention being passed.

    His objection was overruled by Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, who  called for a voice vote. It was unanimously passed by members.

  • Fear of new polls shift rises

    Fear of new polls shift rises

    APC seeks sanction for PDP leaders

    NGOs rise for Jegaa

    There are fears that the March 28 and April 11 elections may be shifted.

    The elections were originally slated for February 14 and 28. They were shifted because the Service Chiefs told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that they could not guarantee security. They asked for six weeks to defeat the Boko Haram insurgents troubling the Northeast.

    “The same reason is likely to be advanced in making a case for another postponement,” a source said last night.

    The Service Chiefs, The Nation learnt, will tender the military’s recent gains in the war against Boko Haram to make the case for another postponement.

    The military says it has made much progress in the anti-terrorism war, retaking towns captured by the terrorists and making arrests.

    But, the popular thinking, particularly  in the camp of the opposition, is that another shift will allow the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to perfect its strategies to stay put in office by manipulating the elections.

    The strategies include:

    •the sudden push for the removal of INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega and;

    •the campaign against the use of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) and the Card Reader – two key elements of a fraud–free election, according to INEC.

    The PDP insists that many would-be voters are yet to get their cards. Besides, the party says the Card Reader may go faulty.

    Almost 80% of would-be voters have got their cards. INEC says there are spare card readers, should some suddenly go faulty.

    Some civil society organisations have stepped up their campaign that the elections should hold as scheduled.

    The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said there were fears that another postponement was in the smithy.

    Nigerians United for Democracy (NUD) held a rally in Lagos on Saturday to insist on the sanctity of the election dates and the guarantee of INEC’s independence and the security of its chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega’s tenure.

    The group also expressed their rejection of military rule or any Interim Government in whatever form.

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and a group of civil society Organisations under the aegis of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room) urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to ensure that the elections hold as rescheduled.

    They frowned at moves by some individuals to discredit the leadership of the National Electoral Commission (INEC) and urged the government to ensure the protection of the commission’s “independence, impartiality and credibility.”

    They said the measures were required in “protecting and defending the credibility of the electoral system.”

    This was part of conclusions by both bodies after a meeting to examine the “Pre-Election Report and Advisory on Violence in Nigeria’s 2015 General Elections,” issued by the NHRC as a measure to forestall election-related violence, protect human rights and bring accountability to bear for violations of human rights during the general elections.

    NHRC and the CSOs stressed the need for the “protection of the independence, impartiality and credibility of the INEC as the body constitutionally entrusted with responsibility for   organising elections in Nigeria.”

    They expressed their commitment to ensuring the prevention and mitigation of violence, including the need to ensure   the existence of a credible capability to address election-related violence and hate speech.

    In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman, NHRC, Chidi Odinkalu and Head, the Situation Room, Clement Nwankwo, both bodies have agreed to establish a joint Technical Working Group to work together in developing clear Rules of Engagement together with protocols for monitoring compliance by security agencies (including the police, military, internal security or para-military units) that may be deployed for election duties in 2015 General elections. The Working Group shall report not later than the 10 March 2015.

    “The Situation Room and the NHRC called for politicians from across the political divide to close ranks in protecting and defending the credibility of the electoral system.”

    The APC said the PDP was scheming to shift the elections because it planned to perfect a rigging plan. It called for sanctions against the party’s leaders, should the elections be moved.

     

  • Centre calls for vigilance during polls

    The Centre for Public Policy (CPPA) has called on the media and non-government organisations (NGOs) to discharge their duties during the forthcoming elections to ensure a smooth election and the survival of the nation.

    Its Executive Director, Clement Ige, in a statement, observed that there has been a total disregard by politicians for issues in the ongoing campaign for elective offices in the country.

    It advised citizens “not to be carried away by the brickbats the parties and politicians are currently throwing at themselves but should try for the sake of the country to go beyond their pedestrian campaign to analyse the parties and their candidates.

    “Nigerians including those who are not registered voters have a task to save the country and the only way to do this is to ignore the current style of campaigns and devise means to scrutinize the parties and their candidates.”

    The group called on the media and the civil society to put nationalism above partisanship in the discharge of their sensitive duties.

  • Security personnel meet ahead of polls

    Security personnel meet ahead of polls

    In the run-up to the elections, the police, military and para-military organs have met in Aba, Abia State, to fine-tune strategies for a violence-free ballot, reports SUNNY NWANKWO

    The Aba police have met with other security agents to strengthen ties and further seek ways of ensuring a credible ballot in the commercial nerve of the state.

    The meeting chaired by the Aba Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Peter Wagbara deliberated mainly on building synergy among them as well as ensuring that elections in Aba and its environs would be successful.

    Wagbara said that the postponement of the 2015 elections has given the police and other security agencies the opportunity to re-strategise to ensure violence-free polls on March 28 and April 11.

    He was optimistic that with the opportunity the shift in dates provided and the new strategy being put in place, the 2015 polls would be more peaceful than the past ones even as he called on the residents of the city not to be afraid to come out and cast their votes for the candidates of their choice.

    The Aba police boss stated that the Forum which involves the Police, Army, Nigerian Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Prisons Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and Nigerian Navy, meet frequently for better understanding, cooperation and collaboration as well as serve as an opportunity for security agencies to see themselves as one family.

    He further urged the agencies to see the need to maintain security in their areas of authority and ensure that the forthcoming polls were violence-free.

    Some of the personnel, including Maduako Emmanuel, Deputy Comptroller of Prisons in charge of Aba Prison, described the meeting as productive and one that has fostered a better relationship among the agencies in Aba and its environs, adding that it has helped them to spell out what each department has to do.

    “The meeting has been effective; one thing it has done is that it has brought security agencies together and it has also made us to understand our roles as far as security is concerned. I suggest it should be continuous,” Madubuko said.

    On their preparedness towards ensuring free, fair and credible elections, the Aba Prison boss said, “One thing you will know as civil servants particularly, the security agencies are not involved in partisan politics; our own is to ensure there is security.

    “Some of our men will be properly involved in the election on that day; there are some people who had already been assigned to various parts of the city and within the prisons we need to ensure that there is security around it in case of any trouble.

    “What we are going to tell our officers is to let them know what they are to do to maintain security on that day.”