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Tag: Resident Electoral Commissioner

  • 2019 election results will be transmitted electronically – INEC

    2019 election results will be transmitted electronically – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) said on Tuesday it has developed a technology that would enable it transmit election results electronically direct from polling units to the states’ headquarters.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ebonyi, Prof. Godswill Obioma, disclosed this at a meeting with faith-based organizations in Abakaliki.

    According to him, the new technology is part of efforts by the Commission to eliminate rigging, electoral frauds and other irregularities and to ensure the enthronement of credibility and transparency in the electoral process.

    Obioma reassured the electorate that their votes would count in the 2019 general elections and urged them to participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR ).

    He said: “INEC is strengthening the process of transmitting election results electronically direct from polling booths to INEC headquarters.

    “We hope that the latest technological innovation would be perfected and deployed in the 2019 general elections.

    “The new strategy would discourage politicians from ballot box snatching, stuffing of ballot boxes and indulgence in other forms of electoral irregularities.

    “The commission would do everything to ensure that votes count in 2019 and that those who would emerge do that through popular votes.

    “We have only one message and the message is that you come out and register and ensure that you collect your PVC to qualify you to exercise your franchise.”

    Read also: 2019: INEC to partner political parties for credible elections

    The REC explained that the meeting was part of conscious efforts by INEC to build strategic partnership and alliance that would be harnessed to mobilize the electorate.

    “This meeting is aimed at jointly charting strategic paths for a credible 2019 elections and to see in what best ways we can partner with the organizations to reach out to their members.

    “It is also to mobilize those who are 18 years and above to come out and register and collect their PVCs,” he added.

    Obioma explained that making the electoral process more inclusive by getting more people involved in civic responsibilities would reduce political tension and those chosen in elections would be better accepted as representatives of the people.

    He said that the commission had embarked on aggressive sensitisation and voter education since he resumed office as REC in Ebonyi on July 12.

    “We have undertaken stakeholders’ town hall meetings in all the 13 local government areas of the state where we met with the people in their localities and sensitise them to the continuous voter registration.

    “We followed the town hall meetings with the stakeholders’ village square meetings in the wards across the local government areas.

    “We listened to their views on how we can do better in our programmes to achieve greater penetration in the society,” he said.

    Reports say no fewer than 50 representatives of faith-based organisations, including Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs attended the meeting.

    NAN

  • 2019: INEC to partner political parties for credible elections

    2019: INEC to partner political parties for credible elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) says it will partnership political parties and other stakeholders in Ebonyi to ensure that the state records credible election in 2019.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner ( REC ) in the state, Prof. Godswill Obioma, stated this while briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Abakaliki on the outcome of a meeting between the commission and Inter Party Advisory Council ( IPAC ).

    He said that the collaboration would raise the capacity and awareness of political parties’ members, equip them with knowledge of the electoral process.

    Obioma said that the synergy would also enhance understanding of provisions of the nation’s Constitution and the 2010 Electoral Act as amended.

    “Our focus, our commitment is on 2019 general elections and the desire to get things done right before and during the elections.

    “This is a special IPAC meeting and the aim is to achieve two results,’’ he said.

    According to him, it is to raise capacity ahead of 2019 in terms of equipping members with knowledge of IPAC and the electoral umpire with provisions of the Electoral Act.

    Obioma said that it was also to sensitize political parties on the need to adhere to provisions of the Act.

    “The meeting also highlighted the legal implications of violating the provisions of the Electoral Law and the need for political parties to conduct their activities within the ambits of the law.

    “It is through a strategic partnership with the political parties and key stakeholders that our aim of having credible 2019 elections in the state can be achieved,” Obioma said.

    He said that IPAC was set up within the structures of INEC to ensure inclusiveness in policy, transparency and probity in election process.

    He pointed out that regular meetings were held to address issues that would benefit the members and electorate.
    “IPAC is composed of all the registered political parties and meets with INEC from time to time.

    “We chart a way forward, look at challenges, create strategies to combat the challenges and of course, make strategic plans in terms of sensitisation and other issues.

    “As I have pointed out earlier, today’s meeting is a special one which was convened to address a particular issue.

    “The issue is the provision of 2010 Electoral Law (As amended) with particular reference to section 92 (A) and (B) which deals on campaign.

    “The essence is to alert political parties of the provisions of that Act stipulating the guidelines, time limit, when to start campaigns and when to stop.

    “They will know what constitutes a campaign and implications of contravening the provisions of the electoral Act,” the REC said.

    He disclosed that the meeting deliberated on the need for violence-free polls in the state, saying that election was not a do-or-die affair.

    He said that political parties were reminded to caution members, candidates and their supporters to limit their actions within the provisions of the law and avoid acts that could trigger election violence.

    “Election is not a do-or-die affair and we were able to highlight the issue in the meeting and this is why we are calling for strategic partnership to help build and cement our relationship with political parties.

    “We encourage political parties and players to abide by the provisions of the Act to abide by guidelines and also to do all it takes to ensure that elections are credible, fair and free, and that people’s votes count,” Obioma added.

    He said that INEC remained an unbiased electoral umpire committed to the discharge of its statutory mandate of conducting impartial and credible elections.

    “We in INEC want to assure the public that we are unbiased umpires; we shall do our job, we will carry out our work taking into account our statutory responsibility as provided for in the Act.

    “We will not add a vote that doesn’t count nor are we going to subtract a vote that counts.

    “We are appealing for cooperation so that at the end of the day, everybody would have seen that we have done the job, people will have been happy to see that their votes have counted.”

    Earlier in a paper presentation, Mrs Tonia Ndu, Head of Legal Unit of INEC in the state, urged political parties to desist from embarking on early campaigns.

    She advised the parties and candidates to adhere strictly to provisions of the Electoral Laws and comply with INEC’s guidelines in carrying out political activities, especially campaigns.

    Ndu said that political campaigns should only begin upon release of timeline for political activities by INEC, adding that it would constitute electoral offence to indulge in political activities outside INEC’s approved time-table.

    “Political parties must commence political campaigns upon INEC release of timeline, which must be 90 days to the election and must end 24 hours to the poll.

    “Any political party found engaging in political campaigns when INEC has not released time-table for political activities, on conviction, is liable to a fine of N500, 000.

    “INEC frowns at politicians and political parties kick-starting political campaigns when it has not given such approval,” Ndu said.
    On his part, Chairman of IPAC in the state, Mr Edward Constance, pledged support and commitment of the commission to credible poll in 2019, assuring that IPAC would always partner INEC to create virile electoral environment.

    Constance, who is also Chairman of United People’s Party (UPP) in Ebonyi, expressed optimism on the ability of INEC to conduct credible elections in the state in 2019.

    He said “we have assured the commission that we will support, cooperate as well as partner it to ensure free, fair and credible 2019 general elections.

    “The meeting was interactive and afforded members of the council opportunity to express views and ask questions on matters of electoral importance.

    “We have also assured the commission that we are not going to engage in early campaigns, and that we will confine political activities in our respective parties within the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.”

    NAN

  • Bye-election: INEC trains 1,776 corps members

    Bye-election: INEC trains 1,776 corps members

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Tuesday it had trained no fewer than 1,776 Corps members for the September 30 bye-election in Eti-Osa Constituency I in Lagos State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly became vacant following the death of Mr Kazeem Alimi, who represented the constituency in the Assembly.

    Alimi died on July 18, at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and was buried on July 19, two weeks after his 50th birthday celebration.

    The late lawmaker was until his death, the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Community Affairs.

    Speaking with NAN on preparations for the election, Mr Sam Olumekun, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner said that the commission had trained Polling Officers, mostly Corps members for the Sept. 30 bye-election.

    Olumekun, who assured candidates of a level playing ground, promised to ensure adequate provision of personnel and materials during the exercise.

    According to him, the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security had met and assured voters of security of lives and materials during the exercise.

    He said that the commission has also trained enough Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs) and provided adequate card readers to ensure credible poll.

    “We have trained all officers for the election and we have enough card readers for the accreditation of voters on the election day.

    “Let all eligible voters in the constituency go out and exercise their civic responsibility by coming out to vote for the candidate of their choice,” he said.

    The INEC boss, who said that there would be no restrictions of human and vehicular movements, assured of adequate security personnel to deal with any breach of law and order.

    Olumekun urged contestants and their supporters to be law-abiding before, during and after the exercise.

    According to him, the affected constituency has six Registration Areas (Wards) and 188 Polling Units.

    The spokesman for INEC in the state, Mr Femi Akinbiyi, had told NAN that nine political parties would be jostling for the seat in the House of Assembly.

    The candidates are: Mr Olawale Okesola (AA); Mr Samson Tampennu (AD); Mr Noheem Babatunde (APC) and Mr Olawale Gbadamosi (BNPP).

    Others are: Mr Olufemi Adebiyi (DA); Mr Oluwaseun Adebayo-Daniel (NNPP); Mr Arubiewe Abogun (PDP); Mr Olorunyomi Odusanya (PPA) and Mr Abiodun Adetayo (UDP).

    NAN reports that the six RAs in the affected constituency include Victoria Island II, Ilasan Housing Estate/ Moriyegun 5 and Lekki/Ikate.

    Others are Ilado/Eti-Osa, Aja/Sangotedo and Ado/Langbasa/Badore.

  • Senate begins screening of 27 Electoral Commissioner nominees

    Senate begins screening of 27 Electoral Commissioner nominees

    The Senate on Tuesday began the screening of 27 Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) nominees sent to it by President Muhammadu Buhari for confirmation.

    Leader of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, presented the president’s request for approval of the nominees at plenary in Abuja.

    After the motion, the senate directed its Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to screen the nominees and report back in two weeks.

    The nominees are Prof. Godswill Obioma, Abia; Ibrahim Abdullahi, Adamawa; Alhaji Ahmad Makama, Bauchi; James Apam, Benue; Mr Mike Igini, Delta; Dr Nwachukwu Orji, Ebonyi; Dr Iloh Chuks, Enugu and Hussaini Pai, Federal Capital Territory.

    Other are Sadiq Musa, Kaduna; Jibrin Zarewa, Kano; Mrs Asmau Maikudi, Katsina; Dr Mahmuda Isah, Kebbi; Prof. Samuel Egwu, Kogi; Dr Rufus Akeju, Lagos; Prof. Mustapha Zubairu, Niger; Agboke Olaleke, Ogun and Sam Olumekun, Ondo.

    The list also contained names of AbdulGaniyu Raji, Oyo; Prof. Riskuwa Shehu, Sokoto; Mr Kasim Geidam, Yobe; Ahmad Mahmud, Zamfara; Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, Plateau and Umar Ibrahim, Taraba.

    Mr Emeka Joseph, Imo; Obo Effanga, Cross River; Prof. Francis Ezeonu, Anambra and Dr. Briyai Frankland, Bayelsa, were also nominated.

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, directed that Sen. Suleiman Nazif (APC-Bauchi) should head the committee in the absence of its chairman, Sen. Ali Ndume, currently ona six-week suspension.

    “In the absence of the chairman, Sen. Ali Ndume, Sen. Nazif will head the committee and the report should be brought back to the Senate in two weeks,’’ Saraki said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Senate had, after the receipt of the list of nominees, threatened that it would treat it.

    Its grouse was the Executive’s handling of the refusal of the chamber to confirm Mr Ibrahim Magu as chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    In another development, the senate referred a list of three non-career ambassadorial nominees to its Committee on Foreign Affairs for scrutiny.

    The nominees are Justice Sylvanus Nsofor, Imo; Joseph Iji, Ondo and Yusuf Hinna, Gombe.

    The committee is to report back to the Senate in two weeks.

  • Adamawa: Fear of insecurity delays conduct of voters registration

    Mr Salihu Ya’u , the Adamawa Acting Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), on Thursday, said the insecurity rumour pervading the Madagali Local Government Area of the state, delayed  the conduct of the Continuous Voters Registration exercise in the area.

    Ya’u in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Yola, on Thursday, said that he was impressed with the turnout of people and the smooth registration exercise in other parts of the state.

    “In Madagali Local Government Area, the Continuous Voters Registration exercise in Madagali Local Government Area of the state is put on hold because we are still accessing the security situation in the area.

    “You know what is happening there; there is the rumour of insecurity,” Ya’u said.

    He said that in spite of the security challenges, the commission had sent its officers to the area to conduct stakeholders’ meeting with security operatives and other relevant agencies to assess the situation.

    Ya’u said that the commission was not sure whether or not it could continue with the registration exercise in the area.

    The commissioner said that the registration exercise would be put on hold until when there was a security report that guaranteed the safety of the exercise in the area.

    He confirmed that the exercise was smoothly going on in all the remaining 20 Local Government Areas of the state.

  • Rivers Rerun: Etche LG election suspended indefinitely

    Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, Resident Electoral Commissioner for Rivers, says re-run legislative elections in Etche Local Government Area have been suspended indefinitely.

    Ikoiwak told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that the Dec. 10 elections in the area were marred by violence.

    He said elections were scheduled for a state assembly seat and House of Representatives for Etche/Omuma constituency.

    He said elections did not take place in up to 30 per cent of the Local Government because hoodlums disrupted activities in the area.

    “ In Etche, elections did not take place in up to 30 per cent of the area. Even when deployments were made on the eve of the election, hoodlums went there and stopped INEC officials from going to the polling units.

    “ Since they did not allow elections to be completed in Etche, that constituency will have to wait.

    “ This is because INEC will not go back immediately.  Materials have already gone into the field.  “Some were snatched and destroyed. We need to plan for another election in the area,” Ikoiwak said.

    The REC said elections in Omuma Local Government had been concluded and that the result for the federal constituency would be announced when Etche was ready.

  • Edo election: Collation of results begins Thursday – REC

    Edo election: Collation of results begins Thursday – REC

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo, Mr Sam Olumekun, says collation of results for the governorship election in the state would commence on Thursday.

    Olumekun disclosed this in Benin on Wednesday after a closed-door meeting with a National Commissioner and two Resident Electoral Commissioners at 11.20 p.m.

    He, however, did not give reasons for the shift in date for the exercise.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the decision to commence the collation on Thursday could be traced to the late arrival of results from the 18 local government areas of the state.

    A Correspondent of NAN who visited INEC office in Benin reports that security was tight while movement to the area had been restricted to only accredited officers and staff.

    At the INEC office, party agents, Journalists and election observers were seen waiting for the commencement of collation of results from the local government areas.

    A source close to the commission told NAN that those waiting for the collation had the option to wait or come back on Thursday for the exercise. 

  • Edo poll: REC threatens to resign

    Edo poll: REC threatens to resign

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Edo State, Mr. Sam Olumekun, has threatened to resign if there was any proof that he compromised Wednesday governorship election.

    Mr. Olumekun insisted that the electoral body postponed the election because there was no security cover for electoral officials.

    He spoke at a stakeholders meeting in Benin City.

    The Edo REC denied allegations that the electoral body was out to do the bidding of a particularly and urged political parties to go out and convince people to vote for them.

    He opined that the election should not made politicians turned the state into a war zone.

    Olumekun informed the political parties that the commission would on Monday September 26, begin distribution of sensitive materials for the conduct of the Edo election.

    He urged political parties to send their agents to the Central Bank of Nigeria in Benin City to monitor the distribution of the materials.

    Olumekun noted that the presence of party agents at the distribution venue was to make sure that the ballot papers were not tampered with.

    The Edo REC warned that those authorized to be at CBN were security operatives, party agents and collation officers.

    His words, “For those politicians saying we postpone election, will you allow me to send your children to conduct election without security?

    “Go and convince the people to vote for your party. INEC will not do anybody’s bidding. We are interested on who Edo people will choose as their leader.”

    The newly Police Commissioner in Edo, Mr Haliru Abubakar Gwandu, debunked PDP allegations that he was in the state to do the biddings of a political party.

    Gwandu promised to provide a level playing field for all political parties and
    appealed to political parties to eschew violence and intimidation of electoral officials and ad-hoc staff.

    He urged the people to stop seeing election as a do-or-die affair, adding that those who wants to invite thugs from neighbouring state should shun that act as security men are on ground.

  • Rivers Re-run: INEC did not disqualify PDP candidate – REC

    Rivers Re-run: INEC did not disqualify PDP candidate – REC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Friday that it did not disqualify, Mr Tonye Alalibo, PDP candidate for Akuku-Toru Constituency 11, from participating in re-run election in Rivers.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that judgment of election tribunal and Court of Appeal excluded the party and its candidate from participating in the election.

    NAN recalls that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Mr. Fredrick Anabraba, won the election for the constituency with 2,970 votes.

    Ikoiwak explained that two days to the re-run, the commission wrote to the state chapter of PDP informing it that the party and its candidate had been excluded in the election.

    “The decision was taken by the commission in compliance with the judgment of the tribunal and that of the Court of Appeal,” he said.

    The commissioner said insinuations that the commission deliberately disqualified the candidate was false and baseless.

    He said the courts took the decision and INEC complied.

    Ikoiwak said the commission would fix a date for repeat election in the eight local government areas where the exercise was cancelled due to irregularities.

     

  • Anambra Re-Run: Ngige Yet To Withdraw From Race – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that it is not aware of the withdrawal from the Anambra central senatorial race re-run by Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    The new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the commission, Dr. Lawrence Azubike, said this yesterday while meeting with political parties and stakeholders in the state at the INEC headquarters in Awka.

    Before now, there had been speculations that Ngige had withdrawn from the race, following his appointment as the Minister of Labour and Employment.

    However the state secretary of the APC in Anambra, state Mr. Chukwuma Agupugo reminded the commission of the letter to that effect by Ngige, which was submitted by the party to the commission as required by the electoral act.

    But Azubuike maintained that he would go into the records of INEC to find out the truth of the matter as he just resumed in the state.

    According to him “we are not aware that anybody has withdrawn, we have not received any statement to that effect, this election is a re-run not a bye- election.

    “What the electron means is essentially, going back to March 28, 2015, INEC will use that same method in conducting the election and we are going to await for further directive from the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.”

    “The political parties and the candidates for the re-run election are not in doubt, only the candidates and parties who participated in that election will participate now, excluding the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) because of the court judgment,” he said.

    During the last National Assembly election in 2015, 14 political parties took part in the election; the implication is that following the disqualification of PDP only 13 parties would take part.

    But INEC was yet to decide whether APC would be allowed to present a fresh candidate, if Ngige declines to contest because of his new position.