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Tag: INEC

  • Electoral Act: Why Gov. Wike wants NASS to override Buhari

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has called on Nigerians to prevail on the National Assembly to override President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto of the 2010 Electoral Act Amendment Bill to guarantee free, fair and credible electoral system in the country.

    Addressing the 2018 Annual Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Section on Legal Practice Conference in Port Harcourt on Thursday , Governor Wike urged Nigerian legal practitioners to rise up and insist on the relevance of the amended Electoral Act 2010.

    “We must all stand up against the devilish efforts by some anti-democratic forces to kill the ongoing process to amend the 2010 Electoral Act on the whimsical excuse that the order of elections proposed in the Amendment Bill contravenes the discretionary powers of INEC, which, in any case, has not complained of any mischief occasioned by the new order.

    “Let me remind us that a defining feature of the legal profession is the commitment to promote both the substantive rules and the processes of the law, as well as, to defend the democratic values of our society,” he said.

    Governor Wike said though the 2010 Electoral Act was enacted to promote credible elections, the All Progressive Congress (APC) working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police manipulated the Act to rig the rerun elections in Rivers State.

    He said in view of the fraudulent activities of INEC, APC and the Police, the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal upheld results concocted by the Police for the Rivers Rerun Elections

    “We all saw how results sheets were duplicated with identical serial numbers and handed over to the police to entre fake results and returns in favour of the candidates of the APC in the said elections.

    “In spite of this law, we all saw how both the tribunal and the Court of Appeal anchored their verdicts on results that were generated and certified from the custody of the Nigerian Police, while the results from INEC, which conducted the elections, were branded irrelevant and accordingly rejected.

    “What all these mean is that a thousand Electoral Laws may amount to nothing for as long as the Federal Government, the INEC, the Police and other government agencies that may legally or illegally be brought into the election process, continue to disrespect the law and trample on our democratic rights to free and fair elections with impunity and without suffering any legal pains or punishment for their criminal conduct,” Wike said.

    Governor Wike urged the legal profession to constantly reinvent and reposition itself in response to existing and new challenges both in the theory and practice of the law.

    The governor also said lawyers must also rethink the way they practice to remain relevant in the profession and meet the needs of their clients and society in the most professional, diligent and efficient manner.

    Declaring the conference open, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onoghen represented by Justice AB Gumel said the timing of the conference is right as it will allow the bench and bar the opportunity to appraise emerging issues of justice delivery.

    He urged judges to adhere to the tenets of the law in their delivery of judgments.

    President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) said the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Law Practice is a vehicle for deepening professional practice in the bar.

    Chairman of NBA Section on Legal Practice, Mainnaya Essien (SAN) said recent ethical issues require an appraisal of practice and challenges.

    Highpoint of the conference was the presentation of a recognition plaque to Governor Wike by the NBA President for the outstanding contributions of the Rivers State Governor to the legal profession.

     

  • Buhari writes senate, demands confirmation of 26 new appointees [ Full list]

    President Muhammadu Buhari has written the Senate to confirm Festus Okoye as National Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Mr Okoye is among 26 new appointees the president wrote, in separate letters, to the Senate for confirmation.

    Mr Buhari’s request on Mr Okoye was contained in a letter read by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, shortly before the Senate adjourned plenary on Tuesday.

    “In accordance with the provision of section 154(1) of the 1999 constitution as amended, I rise to forward to the distinguished senators the name of Barrister Festus Okoye for confirmation as National Commissioner representing South-east geo-political zone.

    “While hoping that this request will receive the usual expeditious consideration, please accept Mr President the assurances of my highest regard,” the letter reads.

    Mr Okoye, an indigene of Imo State, is the Executive Director, Human Rights Monitor, and a Solicitor at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

    In other letters dispatched to the Senate, Mr Buhari also sought the confirmation of 23 members of National Population Commission and two non-legal practitioners as members of Federal Judicial Service Commission.

    The two non-legal practitioners are; Abba Ali (Katsina-North west) and Mohammed Sagir (Niger-North central).

    The 23 nominees for the National Population Commission are; Nwanne Johnny Nwabuisi (Abia), Dr Clifford Zirra (Adamawa), Mr Chidi Christopher Ezeoke(Anambra), Barrister Isa Audu Buratai (Borno), Navy Captain Charles Iyam Ogwa(Cross River), Sir Richard Odibo(Delta), Okereke Darlington Onaubuchi (Ebonyi) and Mr A.D. Olusegun Aiyajina (Edo).

    Others are; Ejike Ezeh (Enugu), Hon. Abubakar Mohammed Danburam (Gombe), Prof. Uba S.F. Nnabue (Imo), Dr. Abdulmalik Mohammed Durunguwa (Kaduna), Sulaiman Ismaila Lawal (Kano), Prof. Jimoh Habibat Isah (Kogi), Dr. Sa’adu Ayinla Alanamu (Kwara), Nasir Isa kwarra (Nasarawa).

    Also nominated are: Barrister Aliyu Datti (Niger), Yeye (Mrs) Seyi Adererinokun Olusanya (Ogun), Prince Oladiran Garvey Iyantan (Ondo), Senator Mudashiru Oyetunde Hussain (Osun), Mrs Cecilia Arsun Dapoet ()Plateau, Dr. Ipalibo Macdonald Harry (Rivers), Sale S. Saany (Taraba).

  • Ex-INEC chair Jega gets new appointment

    Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has appointed a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, to chair a committee for the establishment of Yusuf Maitama Sule Centre for the Advancement of Politics and Democratic Governance in Kano.

    The state government said it is establishing the centre as a tribute to the contributions of late Maitama Sule, to political and democratic development in the north and Nigeria in general.

    According to the governor, the centre will be used for research and scholarly discourse for the advancement of politics and democratic governance.

    A statement by the state Commissioner of information, Muhammad Garba, revealed that members of the 15-man committee include Mamman Nasir, a former President of the Court of Appeal; (Galadiman Katsina), Bashir Tofa, a former presidential candidate, Mustapha Ahmad (Vice Chancellor, Yusuf Maitama Sule University), Shehu Musa Alhaji (Vice Chancellor, Kano State University of Science and Technology), Sule Bello and Dahiru Yahaya.

    Others are Mansur Ahmed, Tajuddeen Dantata, Ibrahim Haruna, Muhtari Hassan, Muhtari Maitama and representative of Kano Emirate Council while Office of the Secretary to the State Government will provide the secretary for the committee.

    Following the death July last year of the two-time minister and former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Governor Ganduje renamed the state-owned university as Yusuf Maitama Sule University and the street where his residence is located as Yusuf Maitama Sule Road in his honour.

     

  • Looters list: Gov. Wike berates Buhari’s government

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that Nigerians are experiencing the height of irresponsibility in governance with the APC Federal Government refusal to obey the rule of law.

    The governor also declared that INEC as presently constituted is setting the stage for the rigging of the 2019 General Election. He noted that Rivers people have the capacity to resist INEC and APC rigging machine in Rivers State.

    Speaking during a Courtesy Visit by Civil Society Organisations of Rivers State on Thursday at the Government House Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said publishing the list of persons standing trial in courts and calling them looters is an unfortunate act of irresponsibility by the Federal Government.

    He said that the act of irresponsibility was worsened by the fact that APC leaders standing trial were excluded by the APC Federal Government.

    “This is an irresponsible Federal Government that has no respect for the rule of law. They have become the judge, the prosecutor in cases before courts.

    “All they want to do is tie the hands of judges to ensure all those standing trial are convicted at all costs”.

    The Rivers State Governor pointed out that the irresponsible list of looters excluded the name of the immediate past Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who was indicted by the court-approved Judicial Commission of Inquiry for embezzling over N90billion state funds.

    On the plot by INEC, Federal Government and Security Agencies to rig elections in Rivers State, Governor Wike said that available credible intelligence indicate that strategies have been mapped out by these illegal agents.

    He noted that Rivers State Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Mr Akin Fakorede was indicted by INEC in her official report for the rerun elections, but the commission made no attempt to prosecute him.

    The governor said instead of prosecuting Fakorede, he was promoted by the Police High Command to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police, posted to Yobe State and the posting cancelled for him to remain in Rivers State for planned electoral fraud.

    He said despite overwhelming evidence, INEC has refused to respond to the fraudulent release of two separate original Rivers East Senatorial District result sheets which led to use of Police for the theft of the people’s mandate.

    “Unfortunately for them, we have so much capacity to resist any attempt to manipulate the forthcoming elections”, he said.

    He noted that there is a plot to unleash violence on the state using SARS and other security agencies, so that the elections are not held alongside other states. He said this will pave way for their rigging plan.

    On the neighbourhood safety corps, he said that the Police and other security agencies will be involved in the recruitment of operatives.

    He wondered why some Rivers politicians derive pleasure in de-marketing the state, saying that they should re-direct their energies towards attracting projects to the state.

    Governor Wike affirmed that he will personally lead the charge to stop street trading in Port Harcourt beginning 12th April, 2018.

    On the issue of soot, he regretted that the APC Federal Government and her agencies have politicised the issue as they have refused to work with the Rivers State Government to curb the menace.

    “We have been fighting with the Federal Government that the military must find refined ways to destroy illegal refineries. We are not in charge of security agencies. They take their orders from Abuja”, he said.

    Earlier, the Leader of the Civil Society Organisations of Rivers State, Mr Sotonye George commended Governor Wike for fulfilling majority of his campaign promises.

    He said Civil Society Organisations of Rivers State will always partner with the Rivers State Government for the development of the state.

     

  • Ekiti: INEC lifts ban on campaign, releases timeline of election activities

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday issued a notice of election for the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Prof. Abdul-Ganiyu Raji, at a press conference in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday said this was in accordance with Section 30 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

    Raji explained that the section provided that INEC must give a notice of election not later than 90 days to the governorship election.

    According to the notice, campaign by the parties for the election will begin on April 15 and end in the midnight of July 12.

    He advised the parties to submit the names of their agents by June 30, with a warning that any party that failed to meet the deadline would not have agents for the election.

    As part of efforts to ensure that more people register for the election, the REC said 531 registration centres had been created.

    He noted that the continuous voter registration in the new registration centres would run between Wednesday April 11 and 16 simultaneously across 177 registration areas in the state.

    According to him, the exercise became necessary in order to enhance more participation in the election.

    Raji said, “I want to urge members of the public who are yet to register and have attained the voting age to come out and register as we are moving all these centres to them.

    “We want to remove all the bottlenecks people have been complaining of which range from economic, to distance and also some political reasons. We are bringing the registration to their doorsteps.

    “And we are promising and assuring the people that a few weeks after this exercise, the PVCs will be ready for collection till the eve of the election and we expect the people to go to our offices for their cards because no Permanent Voter Card, no election.”

    The REC added that 513,000 PVCs had been distributed in the state, saying 218,000 cards had yet to be collected for those who registered before April 2017.

     

  • Fayemi declares interest in Ekiti guber poll

    Fayemi declares interest in Ekiti guber poll

    Former Ekiti state governor and current Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi on Sunday says he will contest the July 14 gubernatorial election coming up soon in the state under the APC.

    He made his ambition known at a news conference at his Isan-Ekiti country home in Oye Local Government Area of the state.

    Fayemi had hosted leaders and scores of members of the party from all the 16 Local Government Areas and the 177 Wards of the state.

    He said he was driven by his past records of positive achievements, especially for workers, retirees and pensioners while in office in the state.

    He explained that his decision to seek re-election was to deliver the state from incompetent and dubious hands and take her to where its supposed to be.

    The former governor becomes the 35th person to formally indicate interest in the governorship poll in the APC alone, aside from dozen others whose campaign posters and billboards are already out on the streets without formal declaration.

    Fayemi said he would formally submit his letter of intent to the state secretariat of the APC as soon as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifts ban on campaigns on April 15.

    On the issue of a White Paper, indicting him for corruption and consequently banned him from seeking public office for 10 years, Fayemi said he was not bothered.

    He declared that the said White Paper cannot stop his ambition, describing the document as final result of several months of political witchhunt launched against him by the Ayo Fayose-led administration that cannot stand the test of time.

    “Regardless of whatever anybody may think, I know I am eminently qualified to contest the election, if I am not qualified, I would never have come to tell you I want to contest.

    “Most of the negative things Fayose and his government said or alleged of me were deliberately concocted out of malice to either malign my character or score cheap political goal; but the truth will always prevail.

    “Same goes for the manipulated debt profile of the state which was a clear case of exaggeration and distortions.

    “Can you imagine, Fayose said he issued White Paper banning me from holding public office, but today, I am giving him red card. By the end of the gubernatorial poll exercise, we will know who is right between the two of us,” he said.

    The Minister vowed to dislodge Fayose and his deputy in the poll if picked at the May 5, 2018 gubernatorial primary of the party in Ado Ekiti.

    He advised other aspirants against divisive tendencies by their followers, stressing that whoever that eventually emerged from the coming primary must be embraced by all since the national secretariat of the party had promised that the whole exercise would be open, free and fair.

    He promised to use his second-term to correct all past mistakes and improve on the good ones, saying he had learnt his lessons since leaving office about four years ago as governor.

    Fayemi, therefore, asked all those he offended while in office as governor to forgive him, while also saying he had forgiven all those who erred against him, in the interest of the party.

    He warned Fayose not to attempt to remove or destroy his campaign posters and billboards the way his government was currently doing to some opposition posters.

    The minister was however silent on when he would be resigning his appointment as minister from the Federal Executive Council.

     

  • 2019: INEC pledges to sanction erring political parties, election defaulters

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will sanction any political party, individual or corporate organisation that commits electoral offence during the 2019 general elections.

    Francis Ezeonu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo, said this at a sensitisation meeting of stakeholders with Imo INEC management on Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) held in Mbaitoli and Owerri North local government areas.

    Mr Ezeonu said Section 94 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) stipulated guidelines for the conduct of primaries, electoral campaigns by political parties and behaviours of party faithful and stakeholders during elections.

    He added that the same Electoral Act frowned at imposition of candidates, use of masquerades and any form of weapon, hate speeches, as well as campaigning in churches, mosques and public offices.

    “We will monitor political parties to avoid anarchy. If after primaries anyone is denied his/her position, INEC will not be party to it and will intervene. It will also sanction defaulting party.

    “The guideline is also against the use of thugs, private militia and vanguards on campaign grounds.”

    The REC said the commission would use Resident Area Camp (RAC) to ensure that election materias were deployed to polling units on time.

    He urged stakeholders to cooperate with the commission by creating an enabling environment to deploy the RACs, as well as provide security at RAC areas so that INEC’s property would not be vandalised.

    The Electoral Officer (EO) in Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Ngozi Odilinye, said the forum was special as it offered political parties, town unions, women and youth leaders, and other stakeholders opportunity to interact with one another and with INEC management in Imo.

    She said the local government area registered 122,555 voters during the 2014/2015 registration, adding that till date, 22,333 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were yet to be collected.

    Ms Odilinye noted that the commission had since April 2017, embarked on nationwide CVR, including the correction of wrong particulars of voters, reprinting of omitted voter cards, lost and defaced cards and processing of voters’ data for inter and intra state transfer.

    Former Chairman of Federal Electoral Panel, Donatus Agogbuo, said money politics was no longer in vogue and urged INEC to ensure the implementation of its promises to restore sanity to the electoral system.

    The electoral stakeholders had complained of registration of more parties by the commission and the siting of INEC offices in local councils.

    They appealed to INEC to ensure credible election that would help in restoring sanity in Nigeria as it relates to election.

    Samuel Ohiri, a traditional ruler in Mbaitoli and Chairman, Imo Traditional Rulers, commended INEC for the sensitisation, saying it was the first of its kind in the history of Imo.

    He, however, expressed regret that there was high level of voter apathy in Imo, especially among youths, stressing the need for positive change of attitude.

    Participants at the meeting included traditional rulers of the various communities, party faithful, women, youth and town union leaders and the clergy.

  • INEC suspends 205 staff over roles in 2015 elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended 205 staff over various unwholesome roles in the 2015 general elections.

    INEC’s Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this in his keynote address at national colloquium organised by the Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISDMG) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said that the interdiction, recommended by INEC’s Appointments, Promotion and Discipline Committee (APDC), was the highest so far.

    Mr. Mahmud said that constructive criticisms from the public had helped the commission to get better in delivering its mandate vis-a-vis conducting credible elections.

    He said that commission’s electoral officers were already in the field working towards the success of the 2019 elections.

    “We have to put the right people in place as electoral officers and assistant electoral officers for the 2019 general elections.

    “The credibility of an election depends on the credibility of the election manager; the credulity of the election manger depends on the credibility of the staff.

    “The APDC recommended the interdiction of 205 staff found culpable in various roles they played arising from the 2015 general elections—this is the highest number of interdictions since the history of the commission.

    “We have within the some of the most patriotic staff in the country; but anybody found wanting will be dealt with accordingly.’’

    He said that the introduction of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) had increased voter registration.

    The INEC boss listed the top states in CVR as Rivers, Anambra, Borno, Delta, Lagos, Cross-River, Osun, Enugu, Kano and Plateau.

    Mr Mahmud said the commission had conducted elections in 179 constituencies so far, adding that of only five had been challenged in court which attested to the credibility of the elections.

    He said that at present, INEC had received over 100 additional applications for new political parties, while nine had met the criteria.

    “We may end up having up to 80 political parties for the 2019 general elections,’’ he said.

    The INEC chairman gave an assurance that the 2019 elections would be better than that of 2015

     

  • 2019: PDP’s decision to drag APC, INEC to UN over alleged rigging plots laughable, puerile – Presidency

    The Presidency on Saturday said the decision by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to drag the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the United Nations (UN) over alleged plans to rig it (the PDP) out of the 2019 general elections was laughable and silly.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said this in a statement made available to journalists on Saturday.

    Shehu said the opposition party’s decision demonstrated the level of desperation that party leaders now found themselves.

    Rather than raising false alarms, the presidential spokesman challenged the PDP leaders to address the concerns raised about their role in the mass data harvesting at the heart of the Facebook and Cambridge Analytica scandal.

    The statement read, “The Presidency has advised the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party to stop raising false alarms in order to gain public sympathy and divert attention from its abysmal past record and failures.

    “They should, instead, address the concerns raised about their role in the mass data harvesting at the heart of the Facebook and Cambridge Analytica scandal, following the revelation that they hacked into Candidate Muhammadu Buhari’s personal data in the run-up to the 2015 general elections.

    “Nothing undermines a country’s democracy as such unfair practices.

    That is why President Nixon resigned to avoid impeachment when they hacked into the opposition, Democratic Party records, and this is why a Special Counsel is investigating the alleged Russian interference in the US presidential election, and if President Donald Trump’s campaign is complicit in the attempted subversion of democracy in that country.

    “The PDP’s decision to drag the All Progressives Congress and INEC to the United Nations over alleged plan or plot to rig the 2019 general elections are not only laughable and puerile, but they also demonstrate the level of desperation that is haunting the opposition leaders.”

    “President Muhammadu Buhari is passionately committed to free and fair elections in the country and for a man who joined forces with local and international observers to ensure a free and fair election which brought him to power in 2015, the President would under no circumstances tolerate any attempt to derail constitutional democracy.”

  • INEC fixes date for Melaye’s recall from Senate

    The Kogi state Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday announced dates for the commencement of the recall process of the embattled Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Prof. James Apam, said following the appeal court ruling that INEC can commence the recall process, the commission has fixed the last Saturday of April as the verification date.

    INEC also fixed first Saturday in the month of May as the day that a referendum would be conducted in line with the electoral laws.

    Apam spoke at a stakeholders’ forum on Wednesday in Lokoja.

    He said, “On this day, the Commission will endeavour to invite all those who have signed the recall register to come forward and identify their signature.”

    According to him, if this process is successful, the Commission will proceed to the next stage where a referendum of all registered voters would be conducted.

    “Here, voters will be asked to vote either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the question of whether they want Senator Dino Melaye recalled.

    “If the answer meets the constitutional requirements of 51 percent ‘yes,’ the process moves to the next stage; but if it fails, the process stops,” Apam explained.

    Recall that the appeal court had, last week, thrown out Senator Dino Melaye’s suit challenging the move to recall him.

    Recall also that the embattled Senator has vowed to proceed to the Supreme Court in the bid to stop INEC from proceeding with the process.

    Apam said that as a law-abiding entity, INEC will not do anything outside the dictates of the law, noting, “that is why we have to wait till after the judgement before going ahead with the process.”