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Tag: Transition Monitoring Group

  • Osun 2018: TMG identifies violence prone areas

    …Group lauds INEC’s readiness for credible election

     

    As Osun State governorship election holds Saturday, an independent civil society election observation organization in Nigeria, the Transition Monitoring Group, has identified some parts of the state with tendency for violence.

    The group listed Ede, Iwo, Ife, Ilesa, Iragbiji, Ikire and Osogbo, the state capital among areas described as flash points that the security agents must pay serious attention to.

    Read Also:NSCDC deploys over 10,000 operatives for Osun guber poll

    At a press conference jointly addressed by the group’s chairperson, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, in Osogbo State on Friday, the TMG disclosed that it has assessed the situation before today’s poll and also sensitized the voters and the other stakeholders about their responsibilities before, during and after the election.

    The TMG chairperson advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to be professional in the discharge of their duty during the election.

    Afolabi-Akiyode, who is also the Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center, also urged the stakeholders in electoral process to shun vote buying and selling, saying everybody should work towards peaceful, free, fair and credible poll.

    Also, a non- governmental organization, the Pan African Women Projects, has lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission for its readiness to conduct a free, fair and credible election in Osun State.

    Addressing a press conference during its pre-election assessment report in Osogbo on Friday, the Head of Mission, the Pan African Women Project, Dr. (Mrs.) Eno Udensi noted that the INEC has been transparent in its dealings.

    She said: “We observed a hardworking Independent National Electoral Commission INEC with a mission towards a transparent electoral process.”

    According to Udensi, the Pan African Women Projects consists of fifty-five nations of Africa and the Diaspora with headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    She disclosed that the NGO recruited no fewer than 150 persons who are indigenes of Osun to form a formidable team with the international observers.

    Udensi, who identified inducement as bane of the current electoral process as it manifested heavily in the last gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, noted that the ugly trend is also rearing its ugly head in Osun through suspicious empowerment programme, distribution of gift items among others by the politicians.

    She endorsed the steps taken by the INEC to curb vote buying from the nation’s politics with measures such as restriction of electorate from carrying hand phones into voting arena and repositioning of polling arena.

    Dr. Udensi, however, described the campaigns and rallies by political parties across the state as expensive, adding however that the rallies were devoid of violence.

    In its contribution, the Director General, Centre For Credible Leadership and Citizenship Awareness Dr. Nwambu Gabriel, called on electorate in Osun to conduct themselves peacefully.

  • Group expresses apprehension over Lagos  LG Election

    Group expresses apprehension over Lagos  LG Election

    Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has expressed concern over the tension building around the coming elections for the Local governments and the LCDAs coming up in Lagos State on Saturday.

    In a statement signed by the Chairperson, TMG, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, the group is particularly worried about the incessant violence in some areas of Lagos, particularly in Mushin due to issues surrounding the nomination of candidates and the tension building up in some quarters due to undemocratic activities of some of the major political parties in the run up to the election and the impact of such tension for the coming elections.

     “We are also concerned about the speed with which the Lagos State House of Assembly passed an amendment to the Lagos Electoral Law regulating the conduct of election to allow for the substitution of a party candidate before the elections”, she said.

    The group is also apprehensive of the implications of the multiplicity of court cases relating to party candidatures giving the fact that the election is just three days away. Such conflicting decisions could cast aspersion on the credibility and legitimacy of the elections.

    “We also express displeasure over the latest pronouncement by the authorities of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) regarding its planned accreditation plan and observer’s deployment for the Saturday Local Government Election in Lagos State”, said the South-West Co-ordinator, TMG, Sulaimon Arigbagbu. 

     As a flagship organization on election and governance monitoring in Nigeria, TMG, Arigbabu said is seriously concerned about plethora of allegations trailing the preparations for the election and the lopsided observer’s deployment plan adopted by LASIEC.

    The group therefore call on LASIEC to ensure highest standard in the conduct and administration of the coming Lagos LG/LCDAs elections, by carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with law, and without fear or favour.

     

  • LG Polls: Aspirants canvass for local government autonomy

    LG Polls: Aspirants canvass for local government autonomy

    Political aspirants for the Chairmanship and Councillorship election which is slated for coming Saturday in Lagos State has made case for
    local government autonomy as panacea to the backwardness being experienced at the grassroots level across the state. Speaking today at the Political debate organised for the Chairmanship/Councillorship Candidates contesting in Lagos, the Chairmanship Candidate for All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) representing Amuwo Odofin local government Area, Honourable Chinedu Nwoye pointed out that while the incumbent governor of the state concentrate on developing the state capitals and some key local governments, other councils do suffer underdevelopment but if local
    government enjoys autonomy, those at the grassroots would be able to enjoy dividends of democracy to the fullest.
    The event which was held at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos was organised by Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Women Advocates Research and
    Documentation Centre (WARDC), Enough Is Enough (EIE) and the media. The Chairmanship candidate for Ikeja, local government Accord Party,
    Busola Olorundipe said that for local government autonomy to be credible it should be enshrined in the constitution for proper
    implementation.
    The aspirants while presenting their manifestoes, Hon. Nwoye, a Trainer and a Consultant intend empowering youths and women in the area as well as rehabilitation programmes, among others. For this to be achievable, Nwoye intends partnering with the all the corporate
    organizations in the area.
    According to Olorundipe, there are lots of factors working against women in politics some of which are; imposition of candidates by party leaders, violence is still synonymous with our politics, financial constraint is another factor scaring women away from participating in politics. If elected into office, she promised to operate an open-door policy irrespective of political affiliation as she will be reachable.
    Speaking on what the programme is aimed at, the Chairperson, Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and the organizer of the event, Dr.
    Abiola Akiode-Afolabi, in her welcome address, said it is aimed at giving the electorates information that allows them to exercise their
    political choice. “The debate is to enable each individual to crystallize his or her autonomous opinion in the decision making process and to help promote credible and legitimate elections that are conducted in accordance
    with international standards”, said Afolabi.
    Other candidates at the event include Hon Akeem Olayemi Apena, of Accord Party representing Onigbongbo local council development area, Hon. Sunday Sodolamu representing Ojodu LCDA, among others.
  • Purchase of cars by Senate is an act of Impunity – TMG

    Purchase of cars by Senate is an act of Impunity – TMG

    The Transition Monitoring Group, TMG Wednesday described the recent purchase of cars by the National Assembly as an act of impunity.

    The group in a statement issued by its Chairman, Ibrahim Zikirrulahi said it is appalled at yet another demonstration of insensitivity by the Senate.

    “Even after the Nigerian people warned that the decision to embark on such hedonistic acquisition in these lean times, would not be tolerated, the Senate has again dared the resolve of the people.

    “The gluttonous manner in which less than 500 individuals are cornering the resources of a country where poverty and many other forms of privations are the order of the day, calls for concerted efforts among citizen groups.”

    The group said it is incensed that at a time Nigerians in many states are grappling with the difficulties of living life without salaries, and the dire economic conditions biting so hard, it is provocative for Senators to be living in criminal opulence.

    “Ironically, this is the same Senate led by a character currently standing trial over weighty allegations of false and anticipatory declaration of assets.

    “It is the same institution that has been hijacked by shady figures, including their leader who has also been mentioned as one of those hiding suspicious assets in offshore tax haven, as revealed in the leaked Panama Papers.

    “In defiance to extant procurement laws and the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Senators have gone ahead to acquire the cars at prices that are twice the actual market value.

    “It is barefaced stealing from the Nigerian people for the Senate to have paid N35.1 million for each of the Toyota Landcruiser purchased, while independent checks confirmed that the Toyota Land Cruiser SUV V6 2016 model is sold at N17 million.

    “TMG calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to take all necessary measures to stop the corrupt and insensitive purchase and distribution of these vehicles by the Senators.

    “Provocative steps like this insensitive purchase and distribution of exotic cars in the face of the current economic struggles remind us of the urgent need to vanquish all forms of corruption and greed from the system.

    “This is why the vendors involved in these shady supplies should be investigated because they are also aiding and abetting the corrupt and wasteful spending by the legislators,” the group said.

    TMG again calls on the Nigerian people to brace up for the coming struggle to confront legislative greed, impunity and corruption.