The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rotimi Oyekanmi

  • Postponement: INEC decides on resumption of campaign tomorrow

    The door for political campaign may have not have been entirely closed after all, it was learnt on Sunday.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be meeting tomorrow to decide if parties can resume canvassing for votes openly.

    INEC postponed last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly polls for a week.

    The elections will now hold next Saturday.

    Equally, the governorship, state Assembly and FCT council polls earlier scheduled for 2nd March have been shifted to 9th March 2019.

    READ ALSO: Election shift: INEC Enugu retrieves materials

    The commission had blamed logistics and sabotage of its efforts for the postponement.

    This will be the third time in recent times that the general elections will be postponed.

    The general elections in 2011 and 2015 were also postponed.

    The parties are eager to resume political campaign, given the current situation the country has found itself.

    Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended stipulated that political campaign must end 24 hours to an election.

    “For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.

    Section 2 of the Act stipulated a fine of N500, 000 punishment for any party which through any person acting on its behalf during the 24 hours prior to that day.

    However, the law did not envisage a postponement, which explained it silence in the face of the present predicament the parties and the electoral body are confronted with.

    But with the postponement of the election by a week, parties felt it will be wrong to stay mute for a week, as it may affect voter turnout for the rescheduled general elections.

    INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Saturday during the interactive session with stakeholders, had said campaigns were over.

    He however doubted the possibility of politicians remaining silent for a week without reaching out to voters.

    The mounting pressure from political parties may have necessitated the commission’s decision to meet to discuss the possibility of resumption of political campaign.

    Confirming the meeting, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of the commission, Rotimi Oyekanmi, stated: “On campaigns, the Commission will meet tomorrow and take a decision.”

     

  • Update: INEC sets to announce outcome of meeting with stakeholders

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) crucial meeting with stakeholders, including international and local observers over today’s Presidential and National Assembly election has ended.

    The Chief Press Secretary to Mahmoud Yakubu, INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, told journalists that a decision has been taken and the commission will address them soon.

    Details shortly…

     

  • INEC debunks allegations of working for PDP

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has distance itself from the claims by the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) that it is working for the opposition party.

    Besides, INEC said the exclusion of APC Zamfara was purely a judicial matter and not a decision of the commission.

    Reacting to the allegations raised by APC, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman said there was no true in the allegations.

    Oyekanmi stressed that the Commission is not a political party and does not have a candidate for the forthcoming general elections.

    He further stated that the commission responsibility is to provide a level playing field for all registered political parties and also conduct a free, fair and transparent election.

    Read Also: 2019: INEC creates 57,023 voting points

    He stated, “It is not true that the Independent National Electoral Commission is working hand in gloves with any political party to do the wrong things. The issue of Zamfara and Rivers are well known. In the case of Zamfara, the Commission had written to the APC leadership to notify it that, due to its inability to conduct its primaries in Zamfara State within the stipulated time as required by law, the party cannot field candidates for the governorship election. Thereafter, two cases were instituted in court resulting in two rulings which were delivered the same day. The Commission then adopted one of the rulings.

    “In the case of Rivers, it was the Supreme Court that took a final decision on the fate of APC. Therefore, both cases were purely judicial and INEC, being a law abiding institution, will always obey court orders/judgment.

    “The Commission is not a political party and does not have a candidate for the forthcoming general elections. Our duty is to provide a level playing field for all registered political parties and ensure that elections are conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner.”

  • Update: INEC rejects Ezekwesili’s withdrawal

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has rejected the purported withdrawal of presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) Dr Oby Ezekwesili.

    The commission noted Ezekwesili’s withdrawal was outside the window of opportunity granted to political parties contesting in the 16th February 2019 presidential poll.

    72 candidates were listed for the election, which is just 21 days away.

    The commission stated her withdrawal contravenes the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, which stipulated that a candidate can only withdraw from election 45 days to the poll.

    Ezekwesili declared her presidential ambition last October.

    Read Also: APCN endorses Buhari, accuses Ezekwesili of lobbying to be minister

    Responding to the development, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi said her decision was also outside the commission’s timetable and schedule of activities for the forthcoming polls.

    He stated: “It is impossible for any presidential candidate to withdraw from the race now.

    “According to the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2019 General Elections, the last day for withdrawal by candidates or replacement of withdrawn candidates by political parties was 17th November, 2018 for Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

    “Therefore, the deadline for Ezekwesili or any candidate in that category to withdraw or be replaced has passed.“

  • Elections: INEC not into ‘rigging business’

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to distance itself from an alleged plot to compromise the Electoral Guidelines and pave the way for the alteration of the forthcoming general elections results.

    The Director, Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Kola Ologbondiyan, gave the advice at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Ologbondiyan alleged that Nigerians were already aware that the commission’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, was under pressure to drop the display of results at the polling units as well as the electronic transmission of polled figures to INEC server from its guidelines.

    Read Also: INEC in the last three years

    He said that the display of results at the polling units ensured that results posted at all levels remained those originally announced at the various polling units, while the electronic transmission to INEC server ensured that the results from the polling centres were not tampered with.

    “Prof. Yakubu must not succumb to the pressure of the Buhari Presidency, because doing so will definitely set him on a collision course with Nigerians,’’ he said

    However, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, dismissed the allegations and urged the PDP to provide the evidence in its possession to prove them.

    “Otherwise, the PDP should cure itself of this recurring hallucination which I am sure Nigerians no longer buy. Certainly, INEC is not into the rigging business,’’ he said.

  • CVR: INEC registers 1.8m new voters, distributes 65,000 PVCs

    CVR: INEC registers 1.8m new voters, distributes 65,000 PVCs

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it had registered no fewer than 1.8 million voters nationwide since the nationwide Continuous Voter registration began on April 27.

    The commission revealed this in its summary timetable on the exercise released on Thursday in Abuja.

    It disclosed that 1,810,153 voters had so far been registered across the country, and that 65,001 Permanent Voter cards (PVCs) had been collected during the period.

    It also stated that 76, 256 requests of transfer of voting units were recorded, while 155, 471 requests for replacement of defaced PVCs were received nationwide.

    A breakdown of the table showed that Lagos has the highest number of new registered voters with 109,040, follow by Rivers with 103,919 and Anambra with 80,439.

    The Federal Capital Territory and Gombe State recorded the least number of registrants with 14, 957 and 17,720.

    On the PVC collection, it revealed that Lagos also topped with 9,982, Kogi, 8,239; Ebonyi, 3,863; Zamfara and Taraba had 22 and 53 PVCs.

    A breakdown of the 76,256 transfer requests also revealed that Anambra led with 7,060 requests; Osun, 6,861; Lagos, 5,817 and Ekiti, 5,471 requests.

    Zamfara had 134 requests for transfer and Yobe, 136 requests, both recording the lowest.

    The table also revealed that Rivers topped the states with number of defaced PVCs with 14,176; Lagos, 13,428 followed by Kaduna state with 10, 182.

    Bayelsa had the least report of defaced PVCs with 86, followed by Zamfara with 378 and Niger, 1,247.

    Meanwhile, the Chief Press secretary to INEC chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, has disclosed that the commission would on Friday, swear in new eight Resident Electoral Commissioners recently cleared by the National Assembly.

  • Melaye’s recall: INEC replies Senate

    Melaye’s recall: INEC replies Senate

    • Says only legitimate court order can stop process

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that only a legitimate court order could stop the recall of Senator Dino Melaye as demanded by his Kogi West constituents.

    Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of the Commission Rotimi Oyekanmi told newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday that filing a lawsuit was not enough to stop the process.

    Oyekanmi said the actions of the commission were being guided by the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

    The constituents came with sacks of documents which they said were `the signatures’ of more than half of the voting population of Kogi West Senatorial District, which Melaye represents.

    “They also presented a register of the said signatories and a letter, asking INEC to begin the process of recalling the senator representing that particular district.

    “Subsequently, the Commission, in the exercise of the powers conferred on it by Sections 116 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), on Monday issued a timetable and schedule of activities for the recall of the senator.

    “Only a legitimate court order or an injunction can be considered by the commission,’’ he said.

    On claims by Melaye that some of the signatures submitted to INEC were forged and that names of dead registered voters were also included, Oyekanmi said the process of verification would clear all that.

     

  • No plan to shift Osun senatorial election – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Wednesday it has no plan to shift the Osun West Senatorial election slated for July 8.

    Besides, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, said there is no condition that warrants the shift of the election.

    He said the election would go ahead as planned.

    Oyekanmi said once election date has been announced, INEC has no power to shift the date except on two conditions.

    The conditions, according to him, are natural disaster or threat to life of election officials and electorates.

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, had alleged there were moves by Osun State government to force INEC to shift the elections.

    Sheriff, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Bernard Mikko, warned that PDP would not succumb to any plan to move the election.

  • Rivers re-run: Your comments provocative, INEC tells Wike

    Rivers re-run: Your comments provocative, INEC tells Wike

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has condemn Governor Nyesom Wike over his comment about the Commission.
    INEC said the governor’s comment was dangerous and capable of inciting people to commit violence.
    Wike had accused INEC of releasing an APC dominated list of ad-hoc staff, for the December 10 rerun elections. According to him, INEC had included APC ward chairmen and ward secretaries as assistant presiding officers.
    But in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, the commission strongly condemned the governor, stating that his comments were capable of inciting the people to commit violence.
    The commission therefore appealed to stakeholders to henceforth refrain from making pronouncements that could either overheat the state or instigate their followers to violence.
    The commission also reassured Nigerians it’s  impartiality and commitment  to conducting credible, fair and transparent elections at all times.
    The statement reads:  ” Commission condemns, in very strong terms, the relentless false allegations, provocative and dangerous comments being made by some political actors, especially the Governor of River State, Mr. Nyesom Wike against the Commission, all of which are capable of inciting people to commit violent acts that could derail the election.
    “We appeal to stakeholders to henceforth refrain from making pronouncements that could either overheat the state or instigate their followers to violence. We also appeal to all the political parties and their supporters to abide by all the extant laws governing the electoral process.
    “We wish to reassure all Nigerians that the Commission will remain impartial and committed to conducting credible, fair and transparent elections at all times.”
    The Commission hereby restates its determination to conclude the elections in Rivers State in a free, fair, and transparent manner on the said Saturday, 10th December 2016.
    The recent Edo and Ondo governorship elections, according to the commission, “eloquently speak of the feat that can be achieved if all stakeholders do the needful.”
    The Commission also stated all the various efforts made to ensure that the elections were concluded, which include stakeholders meetings.
    After months of wide consultations with stakeholders aimed at creating a conducive atmosphere, the Commission announced on 3rd November 2016  that the elections would hold on Saturday 10th December 2016.
    It will be recalled that in obedience to court orders resulting from disputes over the 2015 General Elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted re-run elections in Rivers State on 19th March, 2016, to fill various seats in the National and Rivers state House of Assembly. Unfortunately, the outbreak of violence forced the Commission to suspend the exercise.

  • INEC chairman appoints three aides

    INEC chairman appoints three aides

    The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has announced the appointment of  three aides to assist him in the discharge of his duties.

    They are: Professor Bolade Eyinla, Chief Technical Adviser (CTA); Professor Mohammed J. Kuna, Special Assistant (SA); and Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary (CPS).

    Until his appointment, Bolade Eyinla was a Professor of History at the University of Ilorin.

    He was also National Election Expert at the UNDP-DGD.

    Mohammed J. Kuna, until his appointment, was Professor of Political Sociology at the Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto.

    He was also Special Assistant to the former INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega.

    Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi was a senior editorial staff of the Guardian.