The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

  • INEC issues certificates to APDA, four others

    INEC issues certificates to APDA, four others

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday presented certificates of registration to five newly-registered political parties in the country.

    The parties are – Advanced People’s Democratic Alliance (APDA), Action Democratic Party (ADP), All Democratic People’s Movement (ADPM), New Generation Party of Nigeria (NGP) and the Young Progressive Party (YPP).

    The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, while presenting the certificates to the parties in Abuja, urged them not to consider their registration as an end in itself.

    Yakubu said the registration should be seen as opportunity for the political parties to exercise their critical roles in the best interest of the nation’s democracy.

    He said, “As you are aware, political parties are at the heart of our democracy. Under the Constitution, no Nigerian can contest an election conducted by lNEC unless he/she is sponsored by a political party.

    “Similarly, under the Constitution, you are registered to operate as national political parties.

    “As such, you should remain committed to the politics of principles and development of the entire nation as articulated in your party constitutions and manifestos which you submitted along with your applications for registration.

    “You must eschew the politics of division, bitterness, mudslinging and hatred.

    “You must also be inclusive in all your activities by giving opportunity to all citizens, especially disadvantaged groups such as women, youths and persons with disabilities.”

    He assured that the new parties would enjoy equal rights and privileges of recognised political parties under the Constitution, the Electoral Act as well as INEC’s regulations and guidelines.

    NAN

  • INEC explains choice of LGAs for nationwide CVR

    INEC explains choice of LGAs for nationwide CVR

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained the choice of Local Government Areas (LGAs) for the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

    Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman stated that it is the most cost effective among the options open to the commission.

    INEC Chair also hinted that the situation will change in Anambra state to Registration Areas as a the governorship election approaches.

    Yakubu who spoke at the Commission’s mid- quarter review meeting in Kaduna Wednesday said it will cost INEC N25, 156,000.

    The provision for CVR in the Commission’s 2017 budget is N1, 216,346,068 for all VR activities, including off-season elections that have become regular since the 2015 General Election.

    Hence, INEC Boss said the LGA level is the only affordable option that can be accommodated within the current budgetary allocation.

    He said, “Although Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act empowers the Commission to determine registration centres and notify the public, what is the best method for achieving the goal of making the exercise both CONTINUOUS and ACCESSIBLE.

    “The Commission considered 3 options: 1. Polling Unit (PU) level 2. Registration Area (RA) or Ward level 3. .INEC Local Government Area (LGA) offices or   such other places as may be determined by the Commission.

    The PU level is the closest and most ideal. It will take the CVR to the door steps of citizen. There are 119,973 (approx. 120,000) PUs nationwide.  CVR has ever been conducted by the Commission at this levelThe indicative core cost for roll out at the PU level is given is N137, 467,088,080.

    Registration Areas: There are 8,809 RAs (Wards) nationwide and the cost is N21, 030,353,640.
    There are 774 LGAs nationwide and the cost implication according to him is 25,156,000.
    The Commission, he said decided to commence the exercise at LGA level based on the consideration that it is a CVR and not:—one-week.

    Other considerations, Yakubu said was that the election-eve registration exercise and registration similar to the one conducted in 2011.

    The Commission adopted a quarterly approach to the exercise in order to allow for the publication of names of new registrants (minimum of 5 and maximum of 14 days) for claims and objections as required by law (Sec. 19[1] of the Electoral Act).

    “This sequence shall continue until 60 days to the 2019 General Election when it will be suspended as required by law (Sec. 9[5] of the Electoral Act). It will resume after the General Election.”

    In the case of Anambra state Yakubu said “The CVR will be devolved to RA level as was done in off season general elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo and FCT Area Councils Elections. The date will very soon be announced by the Commission.”

  • INEC receives applications for 95 new political parties – Chairman

    INEC receives applications for 95 new political parties – Chairman

    …May announce new parties this week

     

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received 95 applications for new political parties, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has said.

    Addressing Journalists Monday in Kaduna shortly after the opening ceremony of the Workshop to Review INEC Communications Policy, Prof. Mahmood said they have received applications from various intending political parties, adding that the applications will be looked into at a meeting of the Commission Wednesday in Kaduna and those successful will be announced soon.

    According to the INEC boss, “As at last week, we had received 95 applications for new political parties. At the end of this workshop, there is going to be a retreat on Wednesday to review the ongoing voters registration followed by a meeting of the Commission here in Kaduna. At the end of the meeting of the Commission, we will issue a release on the issue of parties.

    “I have said that we would be holding a mid-quarterly review of our activities and preparation as we head towards the 2019 general elections after every six weeks, by Wednesday, the mid-quarterly review will come up here in Kaduna on the ongoing continuous voters registration nationwide.”

    Speaking on the essence of the workshop held with the support if United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the INEC boss said, “While the current policy has served the Commission, it is obvious that a review is necessary as we prepare for the 2019 general elections. Such a review is significant in order to achieve four objectives; a comprehensive review of the policy to determine what worked and what needed to fine-tune.

    “Secondly, the need to examine the extent to which the policy has enabled the Commission to effectively communicate with the public. To determine the extent to which the policy has facilitated a more robust internal communication within the Commission and to appraise the effectiveness of a sustained stakeholder engagement between the Commission and relevant stakeholders.”

    Prof. Mahmood said since 2015 general elections significant changes have taken place in the political and electoral arena that should be taken into consideration in planning for the next general elections.

     

  • INEC inaugurates Election Project Plan Committee (EPPC)

    INEC inaugurates Election Project Plan Committee (EPPC)

    The Independent National Electoral Comission (INEC) has inaugurated the Election Project Plan Committee (EPPC).

    The Commission also approved the 2017 – 2021 Strategic Plan for immediate implementation, following its validation by stakeholders.

    The committee which is headed by Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu, National Commissioner (Chairman) is charged with the responsibility of coordinating all Departmental and State inputs into the planning of elections.

    The committee is also charged with the responsibility of monitoring the performance of the two-year budget estimates for the general elections, identify gaps and advise the Commission appropriately.

    Other term of reference include, Produce a comprehensive, costed Election Project Plan (EPP) for the Commission’s approval; Ensure the integration of the EPP and the EMS for effective implementation and monitoring; and to Provide quarterly progress report on implementation of the EPP up to the Election Day.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu at a brief ceremony to inaugurate the Committee, yesterday tasked the members to immediately devote themselves to ensuring that the 2019 general elections are better than the previous ones. He also charged them to commence the implementation of the Strategic Plan 2017 – 2021 and to ensure the actualization of all its envisaged goals. He proclaimed that with the inauguration of the Committee, and the approval of the Strategic Plan, the Commission “is now in an election mode.”

    Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu while thanking the Commission for the opportunity to serve, promised that the members would immediately devote themselves to the onerous task of making the 2019 general elections a successful one. He said the members regard the assignment as a great honour and privilege for which no stone will be left unturned to achieve the Commission’s goals.

    Other members of the  Committee are:     Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, National Commissioner, Engineer Abubakar Nahuche, National Commissioner, Prof. Bolade Eyinla, Chief Technical Adviser to Hon. Chairman, Prof. Mohammad Kuna, Special Adviser to Hon. Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi, CPS to Hon. Chairman, Prof. Abubakar Momoh, Director General, Electoral Institute, Mr. A.T Yusuf, Director, Operations, Engr Chidi Nwafor, Director ICT, Mr Iro Gambo, Director, Voter Registry, Mr Aminu Idris, Director, EPM, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, Director, Legal Services, Mrs Ruth Endeley, Director, Estate & Works, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, Director, Voter Education & Publicity, Mr. Kenneth Ukeagu, Director, Procurement and Mr Ndeche Okechukwu, Director, Planning & Monitoring (Secretary)

  • Future elections will be better than 2015 –INEC

    Future elections will be better than 2015 –INEC

    The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the commission was committed to making future elections in the country better than the 2015 exercise.
    Yakubu made the pledge when he received the new United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington at INEC headquarters on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He expressed gratitude to the U.S. Government for its commendation of the 2015 polls.

    According to him, you have noted that the elections were well organised and were of international standard and accepted, contrary to the situation in the past where there were protests on the street after elections.

    “After the 2015 elections, there were jubilations on the streets and this further underscored the achievement of the commission and the steps that Nigeria has taken towards consolidating its democracy.

    “We appreciate your kind words; 2015 was a defining moment for Nigeria elections, but we want to assure you that the commission is conscious of its responsibility and we are committed to making future elections even better.

    “It is for that reason we are taking some steps in ensuring that the 2019 general elections are better that 2015 general elections,’’ Yakubu said.

    He said that one of the steps being taken was proper planning.

    “We have been planning ahead for 2019 general elections and beyond, and we have done so in many other areas in two ways.’’

    He disclosed that the commission would, from next week, commence the process of implementing its “2017-2021 Strategic Plan’’.

    The chairman said that the commission would also clean up voter register, conclude ongoing continuous voter registration in 774 local governments before the 2019 general elections, and continue the exercise later.

    He also listed the fixing of specific dates ahead of the 2019 general elections as well as deepening the use of technology as other steps being taken to improve on the country’s electoral system.

    Yakubu pledged that the commission would continue to work more closely with the US embassy to strengthen the country’s democracy and the electoral process.

    “There is a lot we share in common with the US in terms of our democratic evolution. America practices presidential system, Nigeria also practices the presidential system.

    “Many people don’t also realise that the Nigeria presidential democracy is second only to the US in terms of the size of registered voters.

    “As I speak today, Nigeria has 70 million registered voters, and US is the only country that practices presidential democracy that has more registered voters than Nigeria,’’ he added.

    Earlier, Symington had said that his visit to INEC was to learn how Nigeria conducted its elections, and commended the commission for the success of 2015 general elections.

    He said that conducting widely accepted elections had helped Nigeria to play a leading role expected of it in Africa.

    Symington said that majority views across the globe on the 2015 general elections was that the elections were conducted in the atmosphere of peace imposed by wind of hope and shaped by the certainty of comfort.

    “So, the combination of peace, hope and comfort seems to me a sort of key that is needed, going forward,’’ he said.

    He, however, listed good relationship and confidence between the leaders and the followers as some of the key factors required for good governance across the globe.

  • Voter registration begins April – INEC

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Monday said the Continuous Voter Registration would begin across the country in April.

    Yakubu gave the assurance in Abuja at the commission’s quarterly meeting with the media.

    He said during the exercise, efforts would be made to ascertain dead persons on the voter register and eliminate them, adding that cases of transfers of voting points would also be handled.

    He said the commission was approaching the update of the register with all cautiousness because of its sensitivity and importance to the electoral process.

    “Election is essential based on a number of parameters. One of it is quality and credibility of voter register; the voter register is central to election,” the INEC chief said.

    “After the 2015 general elections, we are compelled to see if we can clean up the voter register. For instance, we have to remove the names of the deceased from the register.

    “But this is easier said than done because sometimes you may know that the person is dead but the process of removing the name from the system is not that simple.

    “This is simply because in some cases we receive report that candidates involve in an election were dead only for them to turn up at the commission few days later to say it is a lie that they are alive.”

    He said the commission was also working on modalities that would assist it in the distribution of uncollected 7.8 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) during the voter registration.

    NAN

  • INEC queries 202 staff members over election malpractices

    INEC queries 202 staff members over election malpractices

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has issued 202 queries to its staff members in connection with election malpractices.

    Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the commission, made this known while briefing Civil Society Organsiations under the umbrella of Situation Room on INEC’s preparations for 2019 elections Thursday in Abuja.
    According to him, the commission will not tolerate violation of the Electoral Act no matter who is involved.

    “So far, we have issued 202 queries to the staff mentioned in the interim EFCC report covering election in 16 states but we have finished work on 14 of the 16 states; whatever action we need to take will be taken.
    “We will ensure that there is no more violation of the electoral act and we will spare no one who is perpetuating it.”
    He said after what happened in Rivers, the commission had to set up its own administrative inquiry which indicted a number of staff members.

    “Whoever is charged to court for that kind of offence is interdicted, meaning the staff would be suspended and placed on half salary until proven otherwise and that is what we have done.’’
    Yakubu said the staff remained innocent under INEC’s law until proven guilty, adding that the commission had begun to plan immediately for the 2019 elections, with a draft likely to be presented to major stakeholders in a few weeks’ time.
    He said budget wise, INEC was considering breaking the budget over a two year period.
    He said the early preparation would also afford INEC the opportunity to ensure that political parties did the right thing with regards to selection of candidates.
    According to Yakubu, reviewing cases of the 80 elections nullified the last time, INEC’s scrutiny of the judgment led to the discovery that many were due to improper conduct of party primaries beginning from nomination of candidates.
    “Somebody has not gone through the primaries but the name is presented to INEC.

    “The electoral act says any candidate whose name is forwarded to the commission cannot be rejected.’’
    He said there was need to continue to engage with parties.
    He said INEC had conducted 167 elections since the last general elections and a little over 20 per cent did not meet the threshold/

    “So, they were declared inconclusive and yet people who did not understand the antecedent resorted to bashing INEC. (NAN)

  • Why we fixed date for 2019 elections early – INEC

    Why we fixed date for 2019 elections early – INEC

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Thursday said the commission fixed dates for the 2019 general elections early in order to encourage all stakeholders in the political process to prepare ahead of the poll.

    Yakubu said besides the presidential election slated February 16, 2019, INEC will conduct elections throughout the year, including 68 elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The INEC chief spoke at the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room organized by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, (PLAC) in partnership with the Department for International Development (DFID) on Thursday in Abuja.

    He said by his calculation, there will be one presidential election, 29 governorship polls, 109 senatorial constituencies, 360 federal constituencies and 991 state constituencies

    Yakubu said: “The date engenders certainty in the election calendar. You know when the election will hold. So, it enables you to plan. We are particularly interested in this because 2019 will be a year full of elections. We will have the national election and in addition, the tenure of chairmen and councilors of the six area councils will come to an end. So we will conduct 68 elections in FCT.

    “Also the tenures of the Governors of Kogi and Bayelsa will also come to an end towards end of 2019. So we start the year with election and end it with election. So there are so many elections to hold and there is wisdom in planning well in advance. The nation must move away from the culture of last minute rush. There must be certainty in the calendar of our elections.”

    He said the commission had only fixed a date for the general election but yet to release the calendar and time table.

     

  • Senate tasks INEC on credible elections

    Senate tasks INEC on credible elections

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sen. Ali Ndume, has challenged the commission to ensure that it conducted credible elections in 2019.

    He particularly called on the Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to surpass the achievements of his immediate predecessor, Prof. Atahiru Jega.

    Ndume gave the charged when the committee hosted INEC in a defence of its 2017 Budget on Thursday in Abuja.

    He said that the country could not return to the past when irregularities stalled elections across the country.

    According to him, the 2015 general elections conducted by Jega was globally acclaimed to be credible and the best of its kind in the history of the country.

    The chairman assured that the committee was willing to give the commission all the support it needed to ensure that the 2019 polls and beyond met expectations of Nigerians.

    Defending the commission’s budget, its chairman said that N45 billion had been budgeted for its activities in 2017.

    He said that N20.9 billion was earmarked for Personnel Cost during the year, explaining that the commission’s staff strength was over 16, 000.

    Yakubu added that N19 billion was budgeted for electoral matters as against N25 billion in 2016 because there would be only a few elections during the year.

    Due to some exigencies, the commission’s defence was adjourned till Tuesday to enable members of the committee acquaint themselves with details of the document.

  • INEC to spend N19.1bn for elections in 2017

    INEC to spend N19.1bn for elections in 2017

    …Says National ID card not feasible in elections

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission is to spend N19.1bn for elections in 2017, its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has said.

    Yakubu, spoke while presenting the Commission’s N45 billion 2017 budget before the Hon. Aisha Dukku- headed House Committee on Electoral Matters Monday.

    According to him, INEC has drawn up a strategic plan in preparations for the 2019 general elections, while the financial implication is being worked out.

    The early preparation, he said, is to ensure readiness for the polls and the strategic plan for the general elections is already being discussed at the three levels of government, especially with the executive arm of government.

    Yakubu also said because the ongoing harmonisation of databases is yet to be concluded. the use of the National Identity cards for the polls, may not be feasible,

    A supplementary budget request would be submitted later in 2017, for the Implementation of the strategic plan,  Yakubu said.

    His words: “At this point, we cannot put a figure on the budget for the elections (2019) until we complete the process of validating the strategic plan. Therefore, we are likely to approach the executive and the National Assembly for supplementary budget in this 2017.

    “The supplementary aspect should incorporate something for the elections and in 2018, we will have it in the main proposals.”

    “N20.9 billion of the commission’s N45 billion budget is proposed for personnel costs, N2.3 billion proposed for capital projects, while N19.1 billion is proposed for elections that would hold in 2017.

    “Fortunately, we do not have many elections this year. Apart from Anambra State, where there will be a governorship election, there are no numerous elections”, he said.

    He said in 2016, the Commission, spent about N24 billion on elections, including re-run elections, across the country.

    On the use of the identity cards for elections, Yakubu said there is a policy in place, mandating all agencies with individual data bases, to harmonise such data with the national identity card and that the Office of the Vice President is coordinating the exercise.

    He further states: “That process has not been concluded. INEC today has the largest data base in the country with 70million registered voters. That is a huge figure, much larger than when you talk about the population of many African countries put together”.

    A member of the committee, Jonathan Gaza Gbewfi commended the early preparation for the 2019 polls, but however observed that the legislature ought to have been consulted on the strategic plan.

    “We are the elected representatives of the people. Those in the executive are mostly appointed officers. You have to start talking with the representatives of the people first on whatever plan you have for elections,” Gbewfi said.