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Tag: BVAS

  • 2023 election cannot be rigged – Former INEC REC

    2023 election cannot be rigged – Former INEC REC

    Prof. Emeka Ezeonu, former Imo, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says the 2023 general elections cannot be rigged.

    He spoke on Wednesday at the installation of new patrons and revalidation of old patrons of the Anambra Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Awka.

    Ezeonu appealed to the public to ensure they get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) ready to perform their civic responsibility in 2023.

    He said that the Electoral law as amended 2022, made it impossible for any form of rigging to take place in Nigerian elections any longer.

    “BVAS approval has tightened the loopholes in card reader, making the electorate more confident that their votes would count,” he said.

    Ezeoonu, chairman of the installation and Christmas party of the council, urged journalists to always be very professional in their reportage.

    Prof Stella Okunna, a professor of Mass Communication, with specialty in Behaviour change Communication and Development communication, charged journalists to be ethically balanced.

    Okunna, a Deputy Vice Chancellor, Paul’s University, Awka, and the NUJ Anambra Council Matriarch, urged journalists to give in their best to build a better society.

    She said that Journalists are agenda setters and should live up to their responsibility by fishing and dishing out quality and unflawed reports to their audiences.

    Chief Chris Eluemunoh, a veteran journalist and community leader, encouraged journalists not to relent in giving the public quality reports as sound reporting grows a nation.

    Eluemunoh recalled that in their time of practice, the environment for reporting was intense but defied all odds to feed the public richly with credible news.

    He said as a grand patron of the council, it is his duty to advise journalists to report correctly, accurately and wisely, especially during the general elections.

    Eluemunoh said that their reports must be seen to be fair to all and without bias.

    Mr Felix Awogu, Executive Head, Studios and Events, Multichoice Nigeria, was installed as one of the new patrons of the council.

    Earlier in his speech, Dr Emeka Odogwu, Chairman of Anambra Council, said that Journalists need to be well catered for in the country because of the hazards associated with their jobs.

    Odogwu appealed to the relevant authorities to upgrade the status of the journalists in the country by adequate recognition and handsome payments.

    Mr Henry Nwasike, former Chairman of Anambra Council, urged journalists to tackle quacks in the system to ensure respect for the profession as non-professionals give negative image of the job.

    The planning committee chairman of the event, Mrs Joy Mbachi, said that the role of journalists in nation building cannot be waved off and called for quality pay package for journalists.

    Mbachi urged journalists to hold on to the tenets of their jobs and proudly serve the public through quality reportage.

    Obi Asika, CEO, Cabal entertainment, and Executive producer, curator and developer of original content, Dr Azubike Ekweozor, were among the new patrons.

  • INEC working with NCC to counter result transmission issues in 2023 – Yakubu

    INEC working with NCC to counter result transmission issues in 2023 – Yakubu

    Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says the commission is already working to resolve election result issues that may arise from blind network spots.

    Newsmen reports that the INEC chairman stated this at a One-Day Strategic Interactive session with journalists in Lagos on Friday.

    The INEC chairman’s reaction followed reservations by Nigerians on the possibility of using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in poor network areas as it depended on the telecommunications network to work.

    Yakubu said the commission would be meeting with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Tuesday, on mobile network issues that might affect transmission of results.

    He said that Nigerians had nothing to fear about the effectiveness of result transmission in the 2023 general elections using the BVAS.

    The INEC chairman said they were liaising with NCC to make sure there would be seamless transmission of results in the 2023 elections.

    “INEC has identified blind spots (where there is poor or no networks) and we are working to make sure there won’t be any problem.

    “We are working with the NCC to make sure we transmit from blind spots. They are the network regulators and they will be very vital to that.

    “We are making sure and working hard so that we transmit freely all around the country,” he said.
    Earlier, Mr Festus Okoye, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, appralednto the media to continue to assist the commission to fight misinformation.

    Okoye said that 84 days to the general elections, the spare of fake news and misinformation on the electoral processes had become worrisome for the commission.

    He said said there was need for the media to assist in tackling the menace of false information for a successful general elections in 2023.

    Earlier in his opening remarks, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos State, Mr Olusegun Agbaje said the media had continued to play very important role in sustaining democracy in Nigeria.

    He urged the media to assist the commission in further ensuring that I formation on the upcing elections remained accurate and balanced.

  • 2023: Production of critical non-sensitive materials on course – INEC

    2023: Production of critical non-sensitive materials on course – INEC

    Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman said the commission has made tremendous progress in the production and delivery of critical non-sensitive materials ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    Yakubu disclosed this at the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room National Stakeholders Forum on Elections supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said that with about three months to the polls and based on the 14 activities listed in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities released by the commission on Feb. 26, nine had so far been implemented.

    Yakubu said:“Similarly, we have made tremendous progress in the production and delivery of critical sensitive and non-sensitive election materials to our State offices,recruitment and training of ad hoc staff for the election are ongoing.

    “On electoral logistics, particularly the arrangements for the movement of personnel and materials to various locations during elections, the commission had met again with the service providers.

    “We have reviewed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the road transport unions.

    “Arising from our experience in previous elections, the commission hsar expanded the scope of collaboration to include the marine union for the riverine areas.

    “Very soon, the revised MoU will be signed with the service providers to cover both land and maritime transportation.”

    Yakubu, however, said the commission has said repeatedly that the perennial insecurity in the country was a source for concern.

    He said that the existing challenge was being compounded by the unfortunate incidents of attacks on campaigns, rallies and processions across all political parties.

    According to him, the commission is determined to tackle the matter of campaign finances frontally.

    Yakubu listed the areas of violation to include: Parties’ and candidates’ expenditures beyond what was provided by law and the obnoxious practice of vote buying at polling units on election days.

    He added:’`Beyond that, we are mobilising every national institution with the responsibility for tracking and combating the illicit flow of funds as well as the broadcast and print media regulatory agencies to confront the problem head-on. ‘’

    Yakubu said that the Electoral Act 2022, required the commission to deploy technology on election days for voter accreditation and the upload of polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

    He said the processes would be achieved through the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and reassured Nigerians that the BVAS has come to stay as the only means of voter accreditation.

    Yakubu said:’`For the last two years, the commission had published results direct from polling units in 105 off-cycles governorship and bye-elections in real-time and the results can still be viewed on the IReV portal.

    “The 2023 general elections will not be different. There is no truth in any insinuation to the contrary.”

    On collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs),Yakubu said for fresh registrations in 2022 as well as applicants for transfer to other polling units and the replacement of damaged or lost cards, the commission would soon release the timelines and procedure for the collection of PVCs.

    The Convener, Situation Room ,Ene Obi,said the Situation Room represented Civil Society Organisations at the fore of working to strengthen democracy in Nigeria.

    Obi said the interventions of the Situation Room as a platform and those of its partners organisations have contributed tremendously to the improvement of the electoral process, holding stakeholders accountable and enlightening citizens.

    She said that this had been with the support of development partners desirous of seeing an improved electoral process in Nigeria.

    According to her, in 2021, the Situation Room launched its Credibility Threshold for the 2023 general elections for the second time,the first having been issued in the 2019 polls.

    She said the document, which outlined minimum standards that the election needed to fulfil to be regarded as credible would be the basis by which Situation Room would analyse the 2023 polls.

    Obi said although,the coalition was pleased to see several improvements in the off-cycle governorship elections that had been held since the 2019 general elections, there were still several challenges of utmost concern.

    She said: “This year’s stakeholders forum on elections is focused on the Role of Stakeholders in Ensuring Free, Fair, Peaceful and Credible Elections.

    “The fact that the 2023 general elections will take part in this context of a grave security crisis is of huge concern.’

    Obi said that the group was using the platform to canvass for improved electoral system and hoped to see a better electoral environment ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    Ms Elizebeth Drew, Head, Governance and Stability, FCDO, British High Commission, Abuja, said that the contribution of civil society to electoral reform processes was laudable.

    Drew said: ‘`The UK stands ready to continue to support INEC and all relevant actors in efforts to effectively execute the polls within this context.

    “We are proud of our long-term partnership and support for INEC as it has worked to continue to improve the electoral system and of our decade-long support to the Situation Room that has allowed the active participation of citizens.

    “It is fundamental to that process that citizens are able to turn out and exercise their franchise in a peaceful and conducive environment.

    “As the largest democracy in Africa, Nigeria’s leadership on electoral reform and practice is important for the continent and beyond, other countries look to Nigeria on democracy issues.’’

    Drew, therefore, said that the execution of the 2023 polls would be a significant milestone in this respect.

    “As a long-standing partner, we believe in Nigeria, and we believe in democracy in Nigeria, we are keen to see a successful general election in Nigeria,’’she said

    The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, represented by ACP Onaghise Osayande ,said the force was working to guarantee an enabling environment for the conduct of the 2023 elections.

    Baba, however, said that with synergy with other stakeholders, the elections would be free ,fair and credible in a peaceful atmosphere.

    He said that nobody was above the law ,and the force would prosecute electoral violators within the police.

    The I-G added, “by the grace of God, the elections will be free and fair and there will be no need to prosecute any officer because they will all behave well.’’

  • 2023: We are preparing for possible rerun elections – INEC

    2023: We are preparing for possible rerun elections – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is already making plans and preparations for the conduct of a run-off presidential election, where no candidate meets the conditional requirements for declaring a winner from votes cast on Feb. 25, 2023.

    The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, gave the hint at a meeting with Bureau Chiefs/Editors of media organisations on Friday in Abuja.

    Okoye said that such plan had been the tradition of INEC for all elections conducted by the commission since the return of democracy since 1999.

    He said that INEC was already planning to print double of the total number of ballot papers required for the first ballot, should in case there was rerun election.

    He explained that the preparations were always made alone the first because the commission had just 21 days to conduct the rerun or run-off election.

    The national commissioner said that before candidate could be declared winner of the presidential election, he or she must have the highest number of votes cast and secure a quarter of the votes cast in two-thirds of the states of the federation and the FCT.

    He said where the threshold is not met by any candidate, the constitution stated that second election should be conducted for two of the candidates with highest and majority votes in line with the provisions of the constitution.

    “Section 134 subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is the fundamental law of the land, makes it mandatory that before anyone is deemed to have been elected as a president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that candidate must secure the highest number of votes cast at the election.

    “He must also secure a quarter of the votes cast in two-thirds of all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. That is mandatory.

    “Now, if no candidate secures this highest number of votes and the mandatory threshold, the Constitution says we must have a second election within a period of 21 days.

    “Now, not all candidates are going to participate in this second election. Eighteen candidates will be on the ballot for the first election, ” he said.

    Okoye also explained  that: “If no candidate emerges on the first ballot, only two candidates are going to be on the second ballot or only two candidates are going to contest the second election.

    “Who are those candidates that will be on the ballot for the second election?

    “The Constitution has made it very clear that two candidates will be on the ballot are; one amongst the candidates who scored the highest number of votes at the election, the one that scored the highest number of votes at the election.

    “The second candidate that will be on the ballot will be one amongst the remaining candidates who have the majority of votes in the highest number of states.”

    He emphasised that: “The Constitution did not say that the person who came second will be the person who will be on the ballot. That’s not what Constitution says.”

    Okoye said that due to the number of ballot papers, over 90 million required for the election and the number of days to conduct the second election, INEC would always print the paper along with those for the first poll.

    “If 93 million ballot papers are required for the presidential election, INEC will print 186 million ballot papers just to be ready for a possible second presidential election.

    “This is because the law gives the commission just 21 days within which to engage in reverse logistics and conduct a run-off election in case there’s no winner.”

    On how INEC would determine the two candidates to be on the second ballot since it was printing the ballot papers along the first, Okoye said that in order to meet up with the timeline, the commission would still print for all the political parties that participate in the fist ballot.

    He said it was the responsibility of the political parties to sensitise the voters on who they should vote for among the two candidates that meet the requirements for second election.

    He said any vote cast for all other candidates expected not to be on the second ballot would be counted as void votes.

    Okoye also said that all sensitive materials for the 2023 general elections would be kept with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), except the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

    “We have classified the BVAS as a sensitive material and we have engaged with different security agencies to provide security for the BVAS because the BVAS will be in the custody of the commission.

    “So, we have adopted a hybrid approach as the BVAS will remain with the commission while the ballot papers will be in the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    “This was the agreement we had with political parties, security agencies, Civil Society Organisations and media.”

    In her presentation, the INEC Director of Legal Drafting Department, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, said INEC would continue to evolve and improve on the electoral process vis-à-vis international best practices and electoral legal framework in its quest for credible elections.

    Babalola described the Electoral Act 2022 as a laudable effort to bring the Nigerian electoral process up to standard with countries all over the world, and meet the aspirations of Nigerians.

    “It is believed that the provisions of the Act will guarantee the delivery of free, fair, transparent and credible elections which will in turn increase the acceptance of the electoral processes and outcomes in the 2023 general election and beyond.”

  • All BVAS needed for 2023 polls ready before December – INEC

    All BVAS needed for 2023 polls ready before December – INEC

    All Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) needed for the 2023 general elections would be ready before December.

    The assurance was given in Abuja on Thursday by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Voter Education and Information Committee, Mr Festus Okoye.

    He gave the assurance while speaking as a panellist at a seminar on “Optimising technology to safeguard people’s will’’ organised by the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Alumni Association.

    Okoye said BVAS to be used in 27 states were already available.

    “We will have the full complement of the BVAS for the 2023 elections; both in the 176,846 polling units and in the 8,809 Registration Areas on ground before December.

    “We shall have a BVAS in each polling unit and we are going to have at least two stand-by BVAS in each of the registration areas,’’ he said.

    The commissioner also said that at the end of on-going nationwide display of voters register on Nov. 25, INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu would address the nation on the modality for collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    He said while the PVCs of those who registered before Jan. 15 were ready for collection, those that registered between Jan. 15 and July 31 would be ready December.

    Speaking on the security of INEC’s ICT platforms, Okoye said beyond the provision of adequate security against hacking, there was also adequate backup for the platforms.

    He said that going by INEC’s performance in recent elections in Osun, Ekiti, Anambra and Osun, citizens’ confidence in the Commission had continued to improve.

    Okoye said that with the optimising of technology, INEC had been able to build portals for political parties to nominate their candidates online.

    It had also built portals for observers and the media to register for election observation as well as portal for voter registration.

    He added that the Commission had also enhanced its technology to improve on voter accreditation during elections, which made it to jettison Card Readers for BVAS.

    The national commissioner also listed the design of another portal for real time INEC Results Viewing Portal to eliminate rigging of elections.

    “What we have done is to try and see in what ways and by what means technology can assist the Commission to do its work better and that’s exactly where we are today,’’ Okoye said.

    In his contribution, Executive Director, Yiaga Africa, Mr Samson Itodo, who spoke on “Issues in voter registration and managing voters’ role’’, advised voters to play their roles in ensuring that the 2023 general elections were not manipulated.

    Itodo, who was also a discussant, noted that politicians were already attempting to manipulate the 2023 elections and citizens must come up with strategy to negate those attempts.

    He listed the attempts to include the compromise of the independence of INEC through the appointment of some National Electoral Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners with political and questionable backgrounds.

    “From the screening of the commissioners by the Senate there was a report that one of the nominees admitted that he was an aspirant at the 2015 elections in one of the political parties, but today he is INEC commissioner.

    “There are states we need to tag as `red flag’ states. We need to monitor the states from where these individuals had been deployed and push back any attempt to compromise elections there,’’ he said.

    Itodo added that another attempt to manipulate the process was the registration of underage potential voters.

    He advised citizens to take advantage of the on-going display of voters register and the INEC website to identify the underage registered, dead persons and foreigners and forward their claims and objections to INEC.

    “For everyone who has been screaming that the voter register should be audited, the register is now in your hand. This is the time for you to contribute to the cleaning up of the voter register,’’ he stressed.

    Another panellist, Chairman, Editorial Board, ThisDay Newspapers, Mr Olusegun Adeniyi, who discussed “the anatomy of public distrust in election management’’, expressed confidence in the capacity of INEC to conduct credible elections in 2023.

    Adeniyi urged Nigerians not to take the country’s election for granted but to defend it.

    He advised politicians to go into the 2023 election with expectations that they would win, but in the event that they lose, they should not scatter the process.

    Former FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr Lawrence Alobi, who was also a member of the panel, said security was fundamental to the electoral process, before, during and after the exercise.

    “We already have reports on where political rallies were being attacked in Jos, Kaduna and Borno States,’’ he noted.

    Alobi called for adequate training of security officers in democratic policing, adding that provision of security on election days must not be biased, and must be proactive.

    “Untrained security personnel on election duty are a threat to the society and to election,’’ he stressed.

    The retired police officer advised the electorate to vote responsibly; monitor behaviour of security agencies during elections and demand that law and other are followed.

  • 2023 Elections: INEC makes clarifications on the use of BVAS

    2023 Elections: INEC makes clarifications on the use of BVAS

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), has assured Nigerians that the Bimodal Accreditation System, (BVAS) introduced for next year’s election will not be hacked.

    INEC Deputy Director of ICT, Dr. Lawrence Bayode, gave this assurance while featuring on the Channels TV  breakfast show sunrise daily on Wednesday.

    Bayode said that the electoral body has blocked all loopholes and taken care of all the issues with the device.

    His words, “I want to say again that we have done everything to ensure that the BVAS is not compromised. The data on the BVAS will be secured.

    “After the poll, when the data is transmitted to our backend server, the data in transit will be secured; and by the time the data gets to our backend server, the data will also be secured there.

    “We have looked at the machine, and we looked at a lot of things; like, as I said earlier, you cannot build such a system, and you won’t fortify the system to solidify it.”

    He added, “Whether we like it or not, people will try a lot to beat this system. But the more they try, the more they meet a brick wall.

    “I can say categorically that we have taken care of every surface attack vulnerability on this system, and we have also tried our best to ensure that the system cannot be hacked into on election day. And I can say again that BVAS cannot be compromised.”

    Recall that the BVAS device has been tested in Osun and Ekiti elections and it has been given a passmark by election observers.

  • 2023: Era of election rigging gone – Osun REC

    2023: Era of election rigging gone – Osun REC

    Newly appointed INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Osun, Dr Mutiu Agboke, has declared that the eral of election rigging in the country has gone for good.

    Agboke made this known on Saturday in Osogbo, the state capital, while addressing staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He said manipulation of the election process, through any means, was no longer possible under the present arrangements, especially with the introduction of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System(BVAS) into the system.

    According to him, the new device had  “technically murdered” all forms of election rigging in the country.

    The new REC promised to uphold the tenets of the Commission by ensuring that people’s Votes counted in the 2023 general elections.

    ”My responsibility is to uphold the value of INEC, and the value of INEC is to ensure that the people’s vote count in the election that will be conducted.

    ”I want to assure the electorate in the state that we will not disallow them from getting the fruit of the votes, and the fruit of their votes is to vote in a direction, and get result in that direction.

    ”The era of rigging is gone. Rigging has been technically murdered by our process and procedure, and that is what BVAS has come to achieve,” he said.

    Continuing, the REC said ” So, in the 2023 election, INEC will ensure that the vote of people of Osun is recognised, and not only recognised, but also reflect the desire of the people of Osun.

    ”Nobody will be deprived of his right to cast his or her vote, and the commission will do the needful at all times”.

    Agboke also urged members of staff of the commission to ensure that their attitude to work changed for better, in line with the rule of engagement.

    He also urged them to be responsible, dutiful and avoid truancy.

    ”Being responsible this period is very key because we are moving towards 2023 general elections.

    ”If you are lackadaisical now, what kind of action will you carry to the election? Our staff must be up and doing,” he said.

    In his remarks, the Administrative Secretary of the Commission in the state, Mr Akanni Oduntan, said members of staff would not disappoint  the new REC.

    ”We are happy at your coming. We want to assure you that we will not disappoint you,” he assured.

  • INEC Chairman swears in 19 new RECs

    INEC Chairman swears in 19 new RECs

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Thursday swore in 19 new Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), charging them to ensure strict compliance with the law.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Yakubu said that they must ensure transparency and non-partisanship in their conduct.

    “Furthermore, you will also interact with various stakeholders. You should maintain the established practice of consultation with them.

    “However, in dealing with the general public, you should be guided by the provisions of the commission’s Code of Conduct.

    “You should not be visitors to government houses and must never hold unofficial meetings with politicians, even after official working hours.

    “All matters pertaining to official responsibilities should be conducted in the office attended by the relevant staff and properly documented. This is your best protection against mischief.

    “Do not compromise the neutrality of the Commission or create the perception of partisanship,” he said.

    Yakubu also advised them to ensure that their loyality was to Nigeria, adding that INEC must continue to ensure that the choice Nigerians on election day prevailed.

    “I urge you settle down quickly and familiarise yourselves with the demands of your new responsibilities,always bearing in mind our commitment to free, fair, credible, transparent and verifiable elections.

    “With exactly 113 days to the 2023 General Election, we are aware that the task ahead of us is not easy but we must never disappoint Nigerians.

    “Our loyalty is to Nigeria and our allegiance is to Nigerians. Only their votes should determine winners in the 2023 General Election.Nothing more, nothing less.

    “There should be no deviation from this path of honour and integrity,” he said.

    He said that the only means for voter accreditation in the 2023 general election was the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) while results will be uploaded to the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) in real-time on Election Day as provided by law.

    The new RECs included Uzochukwu Chijioke- Abia, Nuru Yunusa- Adamawa, Queen Elizabeth Agu- Anambra, Mohammed Nura -Bauchi, Samuel Egwu-Benue, Yomere Oritsemolebi-Cross River, Onyeka Ugochi-Ebonyi and Obo Effanga- Edo.

    Others were Ayobami Salami-Ekiti, Umar Ibrahim-Gombe, Sylvia Agu-Imo, Muhammad Bashar-Jigawa, Abdu Zango-Kano, Yahaya Ibrahim-Kastina, Ahmed Garki-Niger, Agboke Olaleke-Osun, Agundu Tersoo-Plateau, Nura Ali-Sokoto and Ibrahim Abdullahi –Yobe.

  • No plan to remove INEC Chairman – Femi Adesina

    No plan to remove INEC Chairman – Femi Adesina

    The Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Mr Femi Adesina, has dismissed speculations of a plan to remove the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and stop the use of Bimodal Voter Registration System (BVAS) in 2023 general elections.

    Adesina stated this at a policy dialogue programme organised to mark the 2022 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (IDEI), in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The policy dialogue, themed “Media, Civil Society and Violence-free Election in Nigeria”, was organised by the Ministry of Justice, Kano State Government and Managing Conflict in Nigeria Programme.

    Adesina advised journalists not to give attention to people with hiding intentions to disrupt the 2023 general elections by spreading rumour.

    “Recently, there was one group that said the chairman of INEC was going to be removed because may be they didn’t want BVAS.

    “How many times has the President spoken about the role of technology in getting him into office?

    “He has spoken about it locally, internationally that three times he contested three times he ended at the Supreme Court because the government of the day will just write results.

    “Then he said until technology came and there was a permanent voter cards and so it was difficult to write results.

    “So, how and why can the same person has issues with BVAS? I saw that group on television, alleging that there was plan to remove the INEC Chairman and the media gave them that opportunity.

    “Such things should be treated with contradictions because they don’t make sense, at least not under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari,” he stated.

    Adesina said that just on Monday, Buhari at a meeting in Imo, he also gave matching order to police to ensure 2023 general election is credible.

    “If you are going to rig elections, of course the police will be critical in rigging it and here you hear the president saying at every opportunity that don’t rig election.”

    Adesina said while Buhari has always described his commitment to credible elections, the media, the electoral management body and other stakeholders have critical roles to play to achieve that.

    Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that the Federal Government was committed to supporting journalists in discharging their social and constitutionally guaranteed responsibility.

    Mohammed, who was represented by Adesina, said that the Buhari-led administration was doing that through the provision of enabling atmosphere for quality journalism practice.

    He said that has always demonstrated his commitment to freedom of information and quality journalism in Nigeria.

    Mohammed advised participants of the policy dialogue to acquire needed information to help create awareness that would promote credible and violence free elections in 2023.

  • 2023: INEC to track campaign finances, tackle vote buying

    2023: INEC to track campaign finances, tackle vote buying

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will work with relevant stakeholders to track campaign finances, vote buying and other anomalies before, during and after the general elections.

    Mrs Hauwa Kangiwa, INEC Administrative Secretary in  Sokoto State, said this at a stakeholders meeting on Monday in Sokoto.

    She assured that all updates and arrangements, identifications and invitations will be done to carry all collaborating agencies along.

    The administrative secretary, however,  disclosed that a total of 124,963 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were yet to be claimed in the state.

    She explained that 86,446 of the unclaimed PVCs were from 2019; 25,380 for those registered in 2021 and 13,137 for those that transferred their voting centres.

    According to her, 148,446 new PVCs have been sent to the 23 local government areas for distribution.

    Kangiwa told the stakeholders that the commission had received 3,991 units of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to be used during the 2023 general elections in the state.

    According to her, the BVAS will be configured and assigned to polling units across the state.

    She added that INEC staff members were being trained in effective handling of the BVAS ahead of the elections.

    The administrative secretary assured that the commission was ready for the elections, and would continue to interface with different stakeholders, as part of its voter education programme.

    “The commission is well prepared to conduct the 2023 general elections, the preparation will take the commission up to the day of elections and beyond.

    ”All departments and local government offices are working tirelessly to make sure that our constitutional duties are carried out effectively, ” Kangiwa said.

    Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, Chairman, Coalition of Non Governmental Organizations in Sokoto state, expressed fears that the  “alarming” rate of vote buying may affect the outcome of the general elections.

    He therefore urged INEC and security agencies to take decisive action to check the disturbing trend.

    Presentations were made by personnel of the National Orientation Agency, Police, and Department of Security Services, as well as representative of political parties.

    The stakeholders meeting was attended by political parties, the Army and other law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, physically challenged persons, students and others.