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Tag: Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs)

  • Senate confirms five INEC RECs

    Senate confirms five INEC RECs

    The Senate yesterday confirmed five appointees as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration of the report and recommendation of its Committee on Electoral Matters, which screened the nominees.

    Committee Chairman Simon Lalong presented the report during plenary.

    On May 6, the committee, formerly chaired by Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Ali, had screened the nominees.

    The REC-designates include:

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    Umar Yusuf Garba (Kano), Sa’ad Umar Idris (Bauchi), Chukwuemeka Ibeziako (Anambra), Umar Mukhtar (Borno), and Dr. Johnson Alalibo Simikiem (Bayelsa).

    Following the confirmation of the nominees, Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by staying dedicated to their jobs upon assumption of office.

    “I believe that with the calibre of nominees that we have confirmed today, the President has again injected fresh and capable individuals into the INEC.

    “It is hoped that they would work to enhance the electoral processes of the commission as well as boost its performance,” Akpabio said.

  • 2019: We’re monitoring campaign closely – INEC

    …Expresses satisfaction so far

    ..Vow to arrest, prosecute perpetrator of Kwara violence

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • INEC swears in seven new RECs

    Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has sworn in seven new Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) bringing the total number of serving RECs in the commission to 33.

    Performing the ceremony on Tuesday in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, expressed confidence that the new RECs would contribute to the commission’s determination to make 2019 general elections the best in the country.

    He said “with the track records of service in the academia, public service and private sector, it is gratifying to note that the new RECs made positive contributions to the society in various ways.

    “I am equally delighted to note that some of you have managed elections at national level as RECs.

    “I am confident that you will bring to bear on your new assignments, the experience of the recent past that will contribute to our determination to make the 2019 general elections our best elections in Nigeria.”

    Yakubu advised the new commissioners to maintain openness and consultations, as well as be firm and courageous in carrying out their new assignments.

    The chairman disclosed that in addition to the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, the commission would be conducting four bye-elections this year to fill vacancies.

    These, according to him, include Takum state constituency in Taraba, Lokoja/Koton-Karfe Federal Constituency in c, Bauchi South Senatorial District, and Kastina North Senatorial District in Kastina State.

    The INEC boss reassured newly registered voters in the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR ) of getting their Permanent Voter Cards ( PVCs ) before the 2019 general elections.

    He added that “we have consistently reassured the public that for those who registered in 2017, their PVCs would be available for collection in the first week of May 2018.

    “Those who registered in the first quarter of this year, that is between January and March, as well as those who are registering right now in the second quarter of this year, would collect their cards thereafter.”

    Yakubu also reassured the public and those who applied for replacement of their PVCs that their cards would be available for collection before the 2019 general elections.

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    “For those who registered in Ekiti and Osun in 2017 and 2018, priority attention was given to the production of their PVCs, such that all the cards would be available ahead of the July 14 and Sept. 22 governorship elections,’’ he said.

    Responding on behalf of the new RECs, Mr Segun Agbaje, representing Ekiti State, pledged the new commissioner’s readiness to justify the confidence reposed in them.

    He said “by the grace of God, we shall finish well.”

    He expressed confidence in the leadership of Yakubu, saying “with your style of leadership, we would
    not be surprised if 2019 elections turned out to be the best elections in the country.”

    The new RECs are: Mr Baba Yusuf and Mr Segun Agbaje, representing Borno and Ekiti states for second term.

    Others are Dr Uthman Ajidagba, Kwara;  Yahaya Bello, Nasarawa State; Dr Emmanuel Hart, Rivers; Mohammed Ibrahim, Gombe and Dr Cyril Omorogbe, Edo.

    NAN

  • 2019: Yakubu charges RECs to be firm, avoid controversies

    2019: Yakubu charges RECs to be firm, avoid controversies

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has charged the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on the need to be firm and avoid needless controversies ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Yakubu charged them to be firm on the side of the law and the people as they work towards ensuring free, fair and transparent general elections.

    Besides, he also warned the RECs of the antics of politicians who would want to distract them through partisan comments as the polls approaches.

    He also reminded them that their roles are pivotal to the success of the elections and hence the commission can never be compromised.

    He spoke Tuesday at the first Consultative meeting between the INEC management and the RECs held at the INEC National Headquarters, Abuja. This is the third meeting the commission will be holding within the last 48 hours with stakeholders. The Commission on Monday met with the media and the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).  RECs are charged with the responsibility of coordinating INEC activities at the state levels.

    He said, “As I welcome you to this meeting and as we approach the 2019 general elections, I wish to draw your attention to the necessity that you stand firm. Be very firm on the side of the law and on the side of the people of Nigeria who deserves nothing less than free and fair elections.

    “We should not be distracted, especially by partisan comments from any quarter. As the 2019 elections draw closer, there will be attempts to draw the Commission into needless controversies. You must not descend into the arena.

    “Remain focus on the role of serving Nigerians consciously, transparently, committed, doggedly, and always in accordance to the law. Our responsibility to the nation can never be compromised.”

    The meeting with RECs, INEC boss said was to review the activities planned for the coming next year general elections.

    “This meeting is to take stock as we move from planning to implementation of our plans, especially as we move towards the 2019 general elections. For INEC, the Resident Electoral Commissioners are responsible for coordinating the implementation of the commission’s policies and programmes at state levels.

    “Your roles are pivotal to the success of the elections. The feedbacks we receive from you is also essential to the fine tuning of policies and in this way,  this will help the states work in synergy on matters of policies and practice,” he added.

    He also noted that some states have started to respond to the task and responsibilities shared in the last two retreats held by the commission ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Read Also:INEC will not disappoint Nigeria in 2019 – Yakubu

  • INEC: EKiti, Osun guber polls timetable out Thursday

    INEC: EKiti, Osun guber polls timetable out Thursday

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it would on Thursday release the timetable for Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial elections coming up in 2018.

    The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja.

    Yakubu said that INEC had started preparations for the elections in the two states.

    “The end-of-tenure governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states will be conducted next year.

    “In keeping with the commission’s tradition of giving all stakeholders ample time to prepare, the timetable and schedule of activities for the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections will be released on Thursday,” Yakubu said.

    He added that INEC would on Saturday conduct bye-election in Eti-Osa state constituency in Lagos state.

    “Only yesterday, we received the official declaration of vacancy by the Honourable Speaker House of Representatives for the Kware/Wamakko Federal Constituency in Sokoto state.

    “The timetable and schedule of activities for the election would be released on Tuesday.”

    Yakubu said that as part of the preparation for 2019 general elections, which remained 505 days, the commission would continue to explore ways by which all processes associated with Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were improved upon.

    He said that so far 2,786,405 citizens have registered in ongoing CVR exercise of which 1,619,513 representing 58 per cent were males while 1,166,892 (42 per cent) were females.

    “In addition, 108,752 unclaimed permanent voters’ cards were collected.

    “The commission has also recorded 132,431 requests for transfer from original places of registration to new locations.

    “We also received 261,429 requests for replacement of PVCs that were damaged, defaced or wrong entries of personal and other details.”

  • Senate confirms 15 RECs

    Senate confirms 15 RECs

    The Senate has confirmed the appointment of 15 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) out of the 27 names sent to it by the Presidency.

    The confirmation followed consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on INEC presented by its acting Chairman, Sen. Suleiman Nazif during Thursday’s plenary.

    The Senate resolved to confirm the remaining 12 nominees at a later date.

    Those confirmed include Prof. Godswill Obioma, Abia; James, Apam, Benue; Dr Nwachukwu Orji, Ebonyi; Dr Iloh Chuks, Enugu; Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, Plateau; Umar Ibrahim, Taraba; Mr Emeka Joseph, Imo and Obo Effanga, Cross River.

    Others are, Prof. Francis Ezeonu, Anambra; Dr Briyai Frankland, Bayelsa; Ibrahim Abdullahi, Adamawa; Agboke Olaleke, Ogun; Hussaini Pai, Federal Capital Territory; Ahmad Makama, Bauchi and Sadiq Musa, Kaduna.

    Nazif had while presenting the reports, informed the Senate that although all the 27 nominees had been cleared by relevant security agencies, the committee was only able to conclude the screening of 15.

    According to him, the committee had scrutinized all the relevant documents of the nominees and was satisfied with the qualification, experience and suitability of 15 nominees in the first batch.

    “The remaining 12 nominees are still undergoing screening by the committee,” Suleiman said.

    In his remarks, Senate President, Bukola saraki, wished the nominees a successful tenure.

    “They are coming at a very important time to compliment the work already being laid by the current chairman of INEC and to guide us into new reforms that we have put into the amendment of the Electoral Act.

    “I hope they will be able to do that successfully, so that we can continue to improve on our electoral processes,’’ he said.