The Nation Newspaper

Tag: voting

  • Igbo have nothing to show for voting Jonathan, says Nzeribe

    Senator Arthur Nzeribe has insisted that the Igbo are yet to benefit from the Goodluck Jonathan’s Presidency.

    He recalled that the Igbo, voted almost 100 per cent for Jonathan, saying that the Southeast has the right to know what the President had done to justify the huge votes given to him because the region still suffers from infrastructural deficit.

    Speaking on Tuesday night in Abuja, Nzeribe said: “ This is not the case of Oliver Twist. It is a legitimate demand that should be met. The issue of Second Niger Bridge appears to have become an object of campaign for votes from the Igbos by successive Presidents .

    “ It should be understood that the Igbos will not wish to vote on infrastructural credit again. We are now in the regime of developmental/ infrastructural cash and carry. For the avoidance of doubt, I am not talking of naira and kobo, but of real developmental structures, roads, other infrastructure etc.”

    Nzeribe, who played a major role in the annulment of the 1993 Presidential election, pointed out that the emphasis now is not whether the President can contest in 2015 election but that of an honest assessment of his stewardship to Nigerians.

    He said the insinuation that President Jonathan signed a one term pact with selected people in a closet should not be the business of Nigerians who are interested in seeing real dividends of democracy.

    On insecurity, Nzeribe said the issues surrounding Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria is subject to varying interpretations, which will not do the fight against it any good.

    He said the best way to fight the horror is for Nigeria to look beyond its shores for answers, citing the case of Philippines in the 1950’s when it faced a similar problem of insurgency According to him, the then Philippines President, Ramon Magsaysay had to invite an American, Maj Gen Edward Lansdale, an expert in counterinsurgencey.”; after studying the situation in the country, the Major advised that the only way to stamp out such terror, was to eradicate corruption.”

    The senator said: “The situation whereby the government says that members of Boko Haram sect are ghosts on one hand and a committee was set-up for granting amnesty to the same ghosts, portrays those advising the President on the issue as confused and disorganied.”

    He advised that intelligence gathering on Boko Haram insurgency must involve, knowing in details if the insurgents are Nigerians or foreigners or a mixture of both.

    Nzeribe urged the Igbo to jettison that idea that it would produce the President in 2015 due to lack of unity in the Southeast.

    He also said if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must get it right and move away from its crises, National Chairman Bamanga Tukur and all members of the National Working Committee, NWC must go, adding, ‘’the PDP must clear the desk including Bamanga Tukur to get it right

    Admonishing his igbo kinsmen, he said: ‘‘Until we start speaking with one voice we cannot get the Presidency. We must first put our house in order.’’

  • Woes of voting pattern in music reality TV

    ONE attribute that has characterised competition in this part of the world is the ability of the loser to accept defeat. Now, the average talented contender can go to sleep, knowing that the SMS voting pattern, employed in most reality shows can fill the absence of the sportsmanship spirit in him. And indeed, this method has upturned results that could have gone the ways of some obviously more talented participants.

    I got the inspiration to write about this subject sometime ago, when, Vickiola was kicked out of the Glo Naija Sings competition as the first evictee, and viewers who thought she probably did better than one or two participants did not feel too good about her early exit. Even some judges of the competition who saw the prospect in the lady couldn’t do anything to keep her in the house.

    What did she get afterwards? Words of consolation like the common one we usually hear: ‘a competition is a platform for a artistes to showcase what they have got therefore win or lose, the experience and exposure is the most important.’ One begins to wonder how much experience a girl like Vickiola had acquired in just one day of being on stage. Is it not likely that her fate has been finally sealed by that occurrence? Will she not forever blame her fans, friends and family members for not being responsive enough to buy loads of recharge cards and send multiple text messages, just to keep her in competition? Wouldn’t that have at least galvanised her to the next level?

    Perhaps if Omawuni had been evicted first in the West African Idols that gave Timi Dakolo the laurels in 2007, her self-confidence could have been dampened, while inferiority complex may have set in, killing the fortitude with which she has excelled today. Omawumi, who is today, being referred in such consolation talk, just because she is making more success out of music than the winner of that edition of West African Idol, had enough time on the platforms. People had the time to judge her based on her low and high moments. Therefore, the result can be said to be largely accurate. And today, she fits properly into the position of the winner of that show, even though she didn’t get the prize money.

    A school of thought believes that luck and ability are the two major factors that rule a competition of that nature. Others are of the opinion that, luck seems to be occupying a huge position in the scheme. If the latter is anything to go by, very soon, we may start having contenders going for luck charms while going into such competition.

    Well, that’s on the lighter side. But candidly, in a world where fanaticism and favouritism reign supreme, it is dangerous to put the fate of the creative largely in the hands of the voting public. However, because every competition comes with its model, and has got its rules, the format for a show that is sponsored by a telecommunications company for example, cannot be otherwise. Or how else will the company recoup part of its investments, alongside popularising the network? Suffice to say that that, pattern is not being used by telecommunications companies alone, as a reality show like Big Brother Africa has also adopted this method.

    Therefore, the popularity of voting system in reality shows is an indication that it has its advantages, one of which may be the fact that there is need for massive participation and consequently, a balance in decision arriving process. This way, the autocracy of the judges is checked while the fans are given a sense of belonging.

    Looking at this dilemma, a school of thought is of the opinion that the fear of an unfair result is no longer pointing in the direction of judges of reality contest, but to the unsuspecting voting public. This is because the number of friends and family members you have, and how much money they are willing to spend to make you win a competition, is more important than how talented you are.

    Perhaps it won’t be out of place to delay voting by the public until a competition gets to the point where finalists are declared. But should we feel that veto power of the judges would be near absolute, it may be necessary to match the judges’ choice with public votes in equal measures. That way, we can be sure that the decision to pick who stays and who leaves is the prerogative of all.

  • Use electronic voting in 2015, says ACN

    Use electronic voting in 2015, says ACN

    The time has come to embrace electronic voting system in the conduct of elections, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) said yesterday.

    The party said the system would ensure the integrity of elections and hand back elections to Nigerians and advocated its use in 2015.

    In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the ACN said electronic voting would bring down the cost of elections, stabilise the polity, eliminate the atmosphere of war usually associated with elections and erase the fear introduced into the voting process with the involvement of security agencies.

    It said though Section 52, Sub-section 2 of the Electoral Act bans the use of electronic voting ‘’for the time being’’, the National Assembly should move quickly to amend that part of the law and the Federal Government should provide the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) with all the resources needed to make electronic voting a reality.

    The statement reads: “‘We assure INEC of our full support towards using electronic voting in 2015. We also appeal to all other political parties, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and indeed all Nigerians to join us in pushing for a system that will eliminate the role of thugs and sideline vote thieves during our elections, in addition to making our elections free, fair and credible.

    “While electronic voting is not a magic wand, it is the surest way yet for Nigeria to join the league of countries that have wiped out electoral fraud, which is the worst form of corruption.

    “It is also the best way to hand over Nigeria’s elections back to Nigerians, instead of having the judiciary determine who wins what contest. Two years is a long enough time to achieve this.

    “Taking a cue from Ghana, which has organised perhaps the best elections in this part of the world, has realised it can no longer continue with manual voting, hence it did not wait for troubles associated with electoral malfeasance to break out before embracing electronic voting during its last general elections in December.”

    Mohammed added: “It is not just enough for us to sit back in envy while the world hails our neighbour Ghana for being a model in electoral rectitude and participatory democracy. Let us ask ourselves what we need to do differently to shed our toga of electoral fraud and brigandage.

    “Yes, there were some hiccups during the last elections in Ghana, which were conducted with electronic voting. But Ghana quickly moved to correct whatever problems came up. The system also allowed Ghana to extend voting without fearing that ballot boxes will be hijacked or stuffed.”

    Admitting that Ghana’s last presidential election that was conducted with electronic voting has been challenged in court, the ACN said: “To the best of our knowledge, that’s the only case being contested in court since the elections ended.

    “Compare this with Nigeria, where many cases emanating from the 2011 elections are still in court, almost two years later!

    “It is totally unacceptable and indeed an anomaly for a nation of 160 million people to hand over the determination of its elections to a few ‘wise’ men and women on the bench. One result of Nigeria’s successive failed elections is that it has brought corruption to the judiciary. It is time to free judges to do their duties and allow Nigerians to play more role in determining who governs them.”

    The electoral umpire- Independent National Election Commission (INEC) – yesterday explained why it cannot introduce the electronic voting system in 2015.

    It said the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, prohibits electronic voting, saying INEC will maintain the status quo until Section 52, Sub-section 2 has been reworked.

    It also ruled out the possibility of introducing the system in one fell swoop for the conduct of the next general elections.

    Mr Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to INEC Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega, said the electoral umpire was favourably disposed to using electronic voting, but for what is contained in the Electoral Act.

    Idowu said yesterday that even if that section of the Electoral Act is amended, it might be impossible to apply the system in 2015 because its success depends on available facilities.

    “But INEC will experiment and pilot-test the system in 2015, if allowed by the law. As it is, INEC as the executor of the Electoral Act is prohibited from using electronic voting for election,” he said.

  • ACN candidate ‘didn’t incite varsity, poly workers against LP’

    The Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) of the Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday debunked the allegation by the ruling Labour Party (LP) that opposition parties were instigating the workers of Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU) in Akungba Akoko and the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo (RUGIPOLY) against the government.

    In a statement by its spokesman, Mr Idowu Ajanaku, ACO said: “To us, this is a panic measure on the part of the unpopular government in the state. If an opposition party has such a capacity to influence government workers against the so-called grassroots administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, then they are on their way out.”

    The organisation said Ondo State residents should ask the ruling Labour Party (LP) if it was the opposition that has refused to pay the allowances of workers of Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU) in the last 28 months.
    It also asked if it was the opposition that has refused to pay the 27 per cent allowances to teachers in the state.

    The statement added: “In fact, it should interest the people why it took Mimiko over two years to show interest in the widows and children of the Labour unions’ representatives who died in a motor accident on their way from Akure after a meeting with Mimiko to negotiate for the welfare of workers.

    “Till now, the agreement reached has not been implemented. The entire campus wears a mourning look as claims that subvention has not be released is all over the air.

    “Is this also the work of the opposition? Is it an opposition party that has neglected the welfare of the workers in both institutions? Is it the opposition party that has been victimising the workers of these institutions? Is it the opposition that has been forcing civil servants to Mimiko’s rallies across the state against their wish?”

    ACO noted that the latest series of protests against the Mimiko administration is an indication that it has lost the confidence of the Ondo State residents.

    It expressed confidence that Mimiko and his LP would be rooted out by the people on October 20.

  • Group begins SMS voting on candidates

    Gallop Polls Nigeria Limited yesterday began an empirical opinion poll to sample the popularity of the 12 governorship candidates participating in the October 20 election in Ondo State.

    The opinion poll is based on Short Messaging Service (SMS).

    Three most popular political parties in the state; the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), will be represented by Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Chief Olusola Oke and Governor Olusegun Mimiko.
    The opinion poll allows registered voters to participate.

    Addressing reporters in Akure, the state capital, the Principal Consultant of Gallop Polls, Chief Anthony Chigbo, said the voting began yesterday and ends on Friday.
    He said the organiser would announce the result on September 28.

    Chigbo said the goal of the poll is to use eligible registered voters to generate data and develop the content that enables empirical prediction of voter leaning and behaviour on Election Day.

    He said voters on MTN network would be allowed to vote, adding that they would be charged N10 per SMS.

    The consultant explained that the organiser pitched its tent with MTN because it accounted for 60 per cent of registered phone users in the state.

    Chigbo said: “We have created different alphabetical codes for the four most popular parties in the state. The other eight parties will share one code. Anyone who wants to vote for ACN will text “ONDO AK” and send it to 31077; PDP, “ONDO OK” to 31077; CPC, “ONDO HE” to 31077; LP “ONDO OM” to 31077″ and others political parties “ONDO AA” to 31077.

    “Already the 12 political parties are aware of the event. Though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not collaborating with us, but it is aware of the opinion poll.

    We did same thing in Edo State (during the July governorship election) and during the fuel subsidy crisis in January. All these were successful.

    “We are promising to be fear to all parties. There will not be multiple voting from a single person. Underage children will not be allowed to vote, because we have a data base that originated from Ondo State and which provided us with the total number of voters in the state and all registered MTN SIM cards.”