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  • INEC processes 476 CTC documents to aid litigation

    INEC processes 476 CTC documents to aid litigation

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has processed 476 requests for Certified True Copies of documents to aid litigation by aggrieved individuals in court.

    This comes following the recent party primaries conducted for the nomination of candidates to participate in the 2023 general elections.

    This was disclosed in a statement by Festus Okoye, the commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    It reads in part, “The commission has continuously responded to requests for the issuance of CTCs of documents mainly arising from the conduct of party congresses, primaries and nomination of candidates. The number of requests processed has now risen to 1,662,987 pages of documents.

    “Sadly, in spite of the commission’s effort, 147 out of 476 requests processed as at today involving 5,646 pages are yet to be collected by applicants.

    “The commission appeals to prospective litigants to come forward and collect the certified copies of the documents.”

    Okoye added that the July 15 deadline set for the submission of the list of governorship and House of Assembly candidates by political parties remained sacrosanct.

    According to him, the commission had processed 6,995 nomination forms (EC9) uploaded by 16 out of 18 political parties for the constituencies where they intend to sponsor candidates.

    He however regretted that two political parties, the African Action Congress and New Nigeria Peoples Party were yet to upload a single nomination to the portal.

    “The commission hereby reminds all political parties that they have three days left to upload their list of candidates to the ICNP.

    “The deadline is Friday July 15, 2022. The portal will automatically shut down at 6.00pm on that date,” Okoye reiterated.

  • INEC states reasons for omitting A/Ibom, Yobe North Senatorial candidates’ particulars

    INEC states reasons for omitting A/Ibom, Yobe North Senatorial candidates’ particulars

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), has explained why it hasn’t published the

    personal particulars of candidates for Akwa Ibom North West and Yobe North Senatorial Districts due to the controversy surrounding the outcome of the party primaries.
    INEC’s position on the issue was made known by National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee Festus Okoye via a statement on Saturday.
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    The Commission urged anyone seeking a certified true copy of any documents of the candidates to endeavor to do so on time, stressing that any application beyond the stipulated 14 days will not be entertained.
    He said: “The attention of the Commission has been drawn to speculations circulating online on the outcome of some of the recent primaries conducted by political parties and related issues. In particular, allegations intended to impugn the integrity of the Commission have been made in respect of the Akwa Ibom North West and Yobe North Senatorial Districts.
    “To set the record straight, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria mandates the Commission to monitor the organization and operation of political parties, including their finances, conventions, congresses, and party primaries. In line with its constitutional and legal obligations, the Commission deployed monitors to the various constituencies and received reports of such exercises.
    “About the primaries for the Akwa Ibom North West and Yobe North Senatorial Districts, the Commission stands by the monitoring reports received from our State offices. For this reason, the Commission did not publish the personal particulars of any candidate for the two constituencies at variance with the State reports. Right now, the Commission is fungus officio in the two cases. Aggrieved parties are at liberty to approach the Federal High Court and seek redress as provided in section 285 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and sections 29(5) and 84(14) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
    “On the issuance of Certified True Copies (CTCs) of documents, staff of the Commission has been working hard, including weekends, to meet the deluge of requests received. As of Friday 8th July 2022, the Commission has processed 433 requests involving the certification of One million, Six Hundred and Sixty-Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventy-Six (1,662,776) pages of documents. Many of them are awaiting collection at the INEC Headquarters by some of the same applicants complaining of delays in the issuance of the CTCs.
    “Section 29 (4) of the Electoral Act provides that any person may apply to the Commission for a copy of nomination form, affidavit, and any other document submitted by a candidate at an election and the Commission shall, upon payment of a prescribed fee, issue such person with a certified copy of the document within 14 days. Persons applying for CTC of documents should endeavor to act timely and within the ambit of the law.
    “The Commission will continue to uphold the integrity of the electoral process, including the deepening of the deployment of technology to enhance the credibility of elections.”
  • INEC directs officials to continue CVR pending further notice

    INEC directs officials to continue CVR pending further notice

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed its officials to continue with the ongoing continuous voters’ registration (CVR) exercise pending further directives.

    The INEC also reminded political parties that the deadline for uploading the list and particulars of their nominees remains July 15.

    The commission made the disclosure in a statement issued by Mr Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, on Thursday after the commission’s meeting held in Abuja.

    He said that INEC met and deliberated on a number of issues, including the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), the issuance of Certified True Copies (CTCs) of documents and the commencement of the uploading of the list and personal particulars of Governorship and State Assembly Candidates.

    “By the Timetable and Schedule of Activities released by the Commission, Political Parties that conducted valid Governorship and State Assembly primaries shall upload the list and personal particulars of their nominated candidates between July 1 and July 15.

    “We urge political parties to scrutinize the list and personal particulars of the candidates they propose to sponsor at the election to avoid any mix-up and duplication of names.

    “Political parties are advised not to wait until the last day before uploading the list and personal particulars of their candidates.

    The Candidates Nomination Portal will shut down at 6pm on July 15,” Okoye said.

    He advised political parties that have challenges with uploading documents should contact the commission’s Help – Desk, through the dedicated telephone lines or contact the candidate nomination centre at the Commission’s headquarters.

    On the CVR, Okoye said that the exercise would continue nationwide, saying all the Resident Electoral Commissioners and Electoral Officers had been directed to continue with the exercise pending further directives from the Commission.

    He said that the commission had consistently reiterated its resolve to continue to provide electoral services to the Nigerian people and register all eligible Nigerians that were interested in registering.

    Okoye added that INEC had yet again deployed additional machines to areas of pressure and would continue to serve the people of Nigeria.

    “Furthermore, the case at the Federal High Court relating to the terminal date of the CVR came up yesterday, Wednesday, June 29, 2022.

    “Based on the request of the commission, the Court granted an accelerated hearing and adjourned the matter to Monday July 4, 2022 for hearing of the substantive matter.

    “The Commission will give an update after court hearing next week.”

    On the issuance of CTC of documents, Okoye said that the Commission had been inundated with applications for CTCs of various documents.

    “So far, 186 requests for CTCs, some running into hundreds of pages, have been processed.

    “ The Commission is working round the clock, including weekends, to attend to all such requests.

    “We wish to assure political parties, aspirants, candidates, and all applicants for CTCs of documents that their applications will be treated expeditiously and will be issued in earnest.”

  • BREAKING: INEC extends timeline for party primaries

    BREAKING: INEC extends timeline for party primaries

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the timeline for political parties to conduct and conclude their primary elections ahead of the 2023 General Election.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Festus Okoye, Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee made this known in a statement on Friday.

    According to the statement, political parties were allowed to use the 6-day period between 4th and 9th June 2022 to conclude outstanding primaries and prepare to upload the list of candidates and their affidavits on the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal.

    The Commission clarified that it had not scheduled any specific activity during this period and that the six-day period does not conflict with the next scheduled activity or any of the subsequent timelines.

    The statement reads: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) met with the leadership of political parties today Friday 27th May 2022. Once again, the political parties requested the Commission to review the timelines for political party primaries provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the conduct of the 2023 General Election released on Saturday 26th February 2022.

    “Earlier, the political parties had requested for 37 – 60 days extension of the timeline for primaries and the nomination of candidates. The Commission was emphatic that this request could not be granted because it would disrupt other scheduled activities on the Timetable. This position of the Commission has not changed.

    “However, based on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election, the parties have now pleaded with the Commission to use the 6-day period between 4th and 9th June 2022 to conclude outstanding primaries and prepare to upload the list of candidates and their affidavits on the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal. The Commission did not schedule any specific activity during this period.

    “The idea is to simply give parties time to compile the list and personal particulars of their nominated candidates before uploading same to the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal from 10th – 17th June 2022.

    “The Commission has decided to allow the request of the political parties since the six-day period does not conflict with the next scheduled activity which is the submission of the list of nominated candidates or any of the subsequent timelines which remain sacrosanct.

    “However, this request is granted in respect of outstanding primaries only without prejudice to those already concluded by political parties. The Commission will not monitor already concluded primaries”.

    On the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal, the statement reads: “After the conduct of primaries, the next critical activity for political parties is the online submission of the list of the candidates the party proposes to sponsor which shall be accompanied by an affidavit sworn to by the candidates indicating that they fulfilled all the constitutional requirements for election into the various  offices via the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal.

    “In addition, the Commission, based on past experience, has decided to train the political party officials to make efficient and effective use of the portal. The Commission will train four officials from each of the 18 political parties, making a total of 72 in all.

    “Unfortunately, some of the political parties are still yet to submit their nominees for the training. The Commission hereby reminds such parties to do so immediately. The Commission wishes to reiterate that only electronically submitted nominations will be processed.

    “Political parties are therefore advised to ensure that their primaries are free of rancour in order to meet the timelines for the remaining activities embodied in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election”.

  • It’s too late to tinker with 2023 elections timelines – INEC

    It’s too late to tinker with 2023 elections timelines – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it is too late to tinker with the schedule of activities for the 2023 general elections.

    Mr Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, stated this on Monday in Abuja.

    Okoye spoke against the backdrop of the two months extension of deadline for the conduct of parties’ primary recently sought by Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).

    According to him, any change in the June 3 deadline will affect other activities for elections.

    “The timetable and schedule of activities released by the commission are derived from the constitution, the Electoral Act and the Regulations and Guidelines of the commission.

    “The chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made it clear that our timetable and schedule of activities and the terminal date for the conduct of party primaries are firm and fixed.

    “The political parties are proceeding with their congresses and primaries. The commission will not tamper with its fixtures, as doing so will affect other activities and constitutionally-circumscribed timelines.

    “Certainty is key to planning, and the commission is committed to its timelines. Political parties must brace up to the challenges posed by the Electoral Act 2022,” he said.

    Okoye, who said that the commission was already engaged with lots of activities, said it would amount to arbitrariness to adjust the election timetable.

    “INEC is preparing for Ekiti and Osun governorship elections as well as 18 by-elections, while party primaries is a small subset of work of the commission.

    “The commission is engaged in procurement of sensitive and non-sensitive materials, and we will assess and renovate our state and local government offices.

    “INEC will also receive, print and display thousands of nomination forms. Moreover, we have trained and deployed hundreds monitors for the congresses and primaries,’’ he said.

    Okoye, therefore, stated that it was too late to interfere with the timelines, stressing that the commission had released the timetable and schedule on Feb. 26.

  • BREAKING: Deadline for primaries will not be extended – INEC tells political parties

    BREAKING: Deadline for primaries will not be extended – INEC tells political parties

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has again warned political parties ahead of the 2023 general elections that deadline for primaries will not be extended.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports INEC made this known on Thursday in a statement released by Festus Okoye, a National Commissioner in the Commission and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee.

    Recall that on 26th February 2022, INEC released the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election, which provides for parties to conduct their primaries for the nomination of candidates from 4th April to 3rd June 2022.

    “In compliance with section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, all 18 political parties have served the required notices indicating the dates for their conventions, congresses, and primaries for the purpose of nominating candidates for various elective offices as specified in the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

    “Some of the parties have already commenced the process for which the Commission has deployed staff to monitor the exercise as required by law.

    “Given the importance of the exercise to the emergence of candidates for the various elective positions for the 2023 General Election, it is imperative to remind political parties that they have one month from today to conclude their primaries.

    “The deadline remains Friday 3rd June 2022. While urging the parties to ensure rancour-free and transparent exercise, the Commission reiterates that the deadline is firm and fixed.

    “Nominations for Presidential and National Assembly elections shall be submitted through the INEC web portal from 10th to 17th June 2022 while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly nominations shall be submitted between 1st and 15th July 2022.

    “Political parties are further reminded that they must submit to the Commission the list of candidates who must have emerged from valid primaries.

    “The Commission will continue to work with political parties to ensure fidelity to the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the timelines for all the activities contained in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election,” the statement reads.

  • INEC publishes details of candidates for Osun governorship election

    INEC publishes details of candidates for Osun governorship election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday published the personal particulars and list of candidates (Form EC9) for the Osun State Governorship election.

    The commission in a statement by Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, in Abuja said the list was published at INEC State and Local Government offices in Osun State as required by law.

    Okoye said that the list was published in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, following the close of nominations by political parties.

    According to the published particular of the 15 candidates, while none of the governorship candidates was female, six of the deputy governorship candidates were female.

    The published candidates include Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, Adeleke Nurudeen of the Peoples Democratic Party, and Omigbodun Akinrinola of Social Democratic Party.

    He remind political parties that under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, any party that observes that the name of its candidate is missing from the list “shall notify the Commission in writing.

    He said that such letter must be signed by such party national chairman and secretary, supported with an affidavit not later than 90 days to the election.

    “Furthermore, the attention of parties is drawn to Section 32(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which provides that failure to notify the Commission “shall not be ground to invalidate the election”.

    “The final list is published in our State and Local Government offices in Osun State as well as our website and social media platforms for public information as required by law.

    “Political parties are enjoined to note the provision of the law for compliance,” he said.

  • INEC redeploys 146 members of staff nationwide

    INEC redeploys 146 members of staff nationwide

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has redeployed 186 members of staff in its offices across the nation.

    The commission in a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, said that the affected staff were either serving in their states of origin or had served for between 10 and 32 years in the same state.

    Okoye said the commission considered the development as unhealthy for the sensitive responsibilities they discharged.

    He said the commission met on Thursday and deliberated on a number of issues, including the deployment of staff across the country to ensure efficient and optimal performance.

    He said that in line with the commission’s existing posting policy, henceforth, no Head of Department (HoD) or Electoral Officer (EO) shall serve in his/her state of origin, adding that no staff shall serve for more than two electoral cycles in the same duty post.

    “Consequently, the commission has identified 186 staff for immediate redeployment.

    “Among them are 46 HoDs who are either serving in their states of origin or served for more than two electoral cycles in the same state as well as 140 Eos serving in their states of origin or served for more than two electoral cycles in the same state.

    “The redeployed members of staff are to complete the handing and taking over not later than Wednesday, March 9.”

    He added that the redeployment would be an ongoing exercise that would extend to other categories of staff in the commission’s Headquarters, state and local government offices nationwide.

  • INEC upgrades election Result Viewing Portal

    INEC upgrades election Result Viewing Portal

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has upgraded its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to ensure optimum performance and accountability.

    INEC disclosed this in a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, in Abuja on Friday.

    According to the commission, the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) has been migrated from www.inecelectionresults.com to www.inecelectionresults.ng.

    The commission said all previously registered user credentials from the old URL remained valid on the new URL.

    It added that notification emails containing the new URL would be sent to all registered users.

    INEC also stated that the notification to the effect had been uploaded to the commission’s social media platforms.

  • INEC set to conduct by-elections in four states on Feb 26

    INEC set to conduct by-elections in four states on Feb 26

    The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed February 26, 2022 for the conduct of by-elections for six constituencies in four states.

    The Apex electoral body also cautioned political parties against nominating unqualified candidates for the polls.

    INEC National Commissioner and Chairman (Information and Voter Education Committee), Festus Okoye announced this in a statement in Abuja.

    The six pending by-elections are Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency, Ondo State; Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, Plateau State; Pankshin South State Constituency, Plateau State; Ogoja/and Yala Federal Constituency, Cross River State.

    Others are Akpabuyo State Constituency, Cross River State and Ngor-Okpala State Constituency, Imo State.

    The elections would take place two weeks after the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 12, 2022.

    Okoye said the decision to conduct the by-elections immediately after the FCT poll was to enable the Commission to clear most of the polls and focus on the Ekiti, Osun Governorship elections and ongoing preparations for the 2023 general election.

    According to him, some of the vacancies arose as a result of the death of the previous occupants, substantial disruption of the electoral process and fulfillment of constitutional and legal requirements in the electoral process.

    Okoye said the commission considered the issues that led to the vacancies and the rescheduling of some of the elections as well as the security situation in some of the states.

    In view of this, Okoye said the commission would combine the Ekiti East 1 State constituency election with the governorship election in the state, scheduled for June 18, 2022.

    He said, “The commission is consulting with security agencies and the critical stakeholders relating to the vacancy in Shinkafi State Constituency of Zamfara State while the Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly has not declared vacancy in relation to Giwa State Constituency of Kaduna State.

    “The official notification for the elections will be published on Monday, January 24, 2022. Political Parties shall conduct their primaries including resolution of disputes arising from the primaries between January 26, and February 5, 2022 while the last day for submission of list of nominated candidates is at 6pm on February 9, 2022 and this must be done through the Commission’s online nomination portal.

    “Political Parties shall submit the names of their Polling Agents for the election to the Electoral Officer of the Local Government on or before February 12, 2022 and campaigns by Political parties shall stop on February 24, 2022. The Access Code for the nomination forms shall be available for collection from February 5, 2022 at the Commission’s Headquarters.”

    Political parties must note that the aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of voting shall be declared the winner of the primary of the party and the aspirant’s name shall be forwarded to the Commission as the candidate of the party.

    “Political parties that present to the Commission the name of a candidate who does not meet the qualifications stipulated in the Constitution and the Electoral Act shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction shall be liable to a maximum fine of N500,000.00.

    “The detailed Timetable and Schedule of activities has been uploaded on the Commission’s website and social media platforms”, he noted.