TheNewsGuru

Tag: INEC

  • BREAKING: Senate approves INEC to conduct LG elections

    The Senate at the plenary on Tuesday approved that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to conduct local government area elections.

    President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, who presided over the debate on the report by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Review, put the proposed amendment to vote and the ayes had it.

  • INEC asks court to vacate order halting Dino Melaye’s recall

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Thursday asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, to set aside an earlier order of the court, suspending the recall of Sen. Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi).

    TheNewsGuru.com reports INEC commenced Melaye’s recall following the receipt of a petition from members of his constituency demanding that he be recalled.

    Melaye, however, approached the court, seeking an order stopping INEC from going ahead with the process, pending the determination of a suit he filed challenging his recall.

    Melaye had in the suit alleged irregularities and fraud in the petition.

    In the application which was argued by his lawyer, Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN), he submitted that the signatories in the petition were fake, fictitious and concocted.

    He added that some of the signatures were of dead members of his constituency.

    In his ruling, Justice John Tsoho, ordered parties to maintain status quo, pending the determination of the matter.

    He adjourned further hearing until Sept. 29.

    INEC, however, applied that the matter be heard before a vacation judge.

    When the matter came up on Thursday, counsel to INEC, Mr Sulayman Ibrahim, informed the court of an application seeking to set aside the ex-parte order made by the court on July 6, to maintain the status quo.

    He also informed the court of another application, seeking accelerated hearing of the matter during vacation.

    In the application seeking the vacation of the ex-parte order, the electoral body argued that the order violated its right to fair hearing as enshrined in Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

    The commission further argued that the order was against its time-bound constitutional duty, which is the time frame stipulated by law to carry out a recall.

    In an affidavit deposed to by one Paave Demenongo, the commission claimed that it was not heard before the ex-parte order was made.

    It also claimed that since it received the order on July 10, it had been unable to take action on the recall process, notwithstanding the fact that time was of essence in carrying out its duties.

    “The defendant/applicant has 90 days from June 21 to conduct referendum in line with the approved time table and schedule of activities for the recall of the senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District of Kogi.

    “The period of 90 days will elapse on Sept. 18.”

    The affidavit further stated that Melaye would not be prejudiced if the application to vacate the ex-parte order was granted as it was in the interest of justice to grant it.

    In the other application seeking accelerated hearing, INEC said it was predicated on the grounds that it was its constitutional duty as provided by Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution.

    It further stated that the application was also predicated on the fact that time was of essence in the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

    However, counsel to Melaye, Mr Nkem Okoro, opposed both applications, stating that he was served on July 18, less than two days before the hearing.

    He argued that by the rules of the court, he needed seven days within which to respond to both applications.

    Okoro asked the court for an adjournment to enable him prepare his reply.

    The vacation judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, adjourned the matter until July 27 for hearing.

     

     

    NAN

  • BREAKING: Dino Melaye free as INEC suspends recall process

    The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it will halt the process of recalling the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district, Mr. Dino Melaye, in compliance with a court directive.

    The electoral body on Thursday said the decision was reached at its weekly meeting held in Abuja.

    INEC had on Wednesday 12 June 2017 received six bags, which contained the signatures of 52.3 percent of the electorates from the zone and other petitions, requesting for the recall of Melaye.

    The lawmaker had sued INEC alleging that the petition for his recall included forged signatures of dead persons.

    An Abuja Federal High Court on 6th July 2017 ordered INEC and Melaye to maintain the “status quo” until a ruling is passed on the lawmaker’s suit.

    The election umpire in series of tweets on its Twitter handle, @inecnigeria, said it will comply with the court’s directive ” a responsible, law-abiding institution.”

    It said, “INEC held its regular weekly meeting today and considered the order given by the Federal High Court, Abuja dated 6th July 2017, directing the “parties to maintain the status quo till the determination of the plaintiff’s motion on notice in respect of the suit filed by Senator Dino Melaye, seeking orders of injunction against the Commission to stop it from acting on the petition by the registered voters of Kogi West Senatorial district.

    “As a responsible, law-abiding institution, INEC will comply with the order. However, INEC has also decided to take immediate steps to vacate the court order & for the matter to be heard & determined expeditiously.

    “Whereas, the court adjourned hearing of the Motion on Notice to 29th September 2017, it should be noted that Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) sets a limit of 90 days from the date of the presentation of the petition (21st June, 2017) for the exercise to be completed.

    “The Commission further decided to draw the attention of the Chief Justice of Nigeria to the order in view of its effect on the performance of the Commission’s constitutional duty to conduct the referendum for the recall in Kogi West Senatorial district. ”

    INEC, at the meeting, also approved a policy of comprehensive audit after all elections.

    “This is in line with its commitment of ensuring transparency and overall improvement of the electoral process,” it said.

  • INEC issues certificate of return to Adeleke

    INEC issues certificate of return to Adeleke

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that it would continue to improve on the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in the country.

    INEC National Commissioner, Prince Adedeji Soyebi, gave the assurance when he presented Certificate of Return to the winner of the Osun West Senatorial bye-election, Mr Ademola Adeleke, at INEC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

    INEC on Sunday declared Adeleke of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) the winner of the bye-election held in 10 local government areas of the senatorial district.

    The winner, who is the younger brother of the late Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, polled 97,480 votes to defeat former Sen. Mudashiru Hussein of the APC, who scored 66,116 votes.

    Adedeji advised citizens to always create the enabling environment for peaceful elections for the commission.

    He commended the people of Osun West for their peaceful conduct during and after the Saturday election, saying that they have set precedence for Nigeria election.

    “I must commend the people of Osun South West for the way and manner they conducted themselves in the election.

    “They conducted themselves in a peaceful, friendly and ideal atmosphere for elections. They have set a role model or standard for others to emulate.

    “The people of Osun have shown us how elections should be conducted,” he said.

    Adedeji said that if the citizens conduct themselves in peaceful way as the people of Osun West did, the work of the commission would be easier.

    He thereafter presented the certificate of return to Adedeji.

    Responding, Adeleke commended INEC for conducting the election in a free, fair and credible manner.

    The senator-elect also commended his constituents for their support and the way they created a peaceful atmosphere for the election.

    Adeleke in an interview with newsmen pledged not to disappoint the people of the state that elected him.

    He pledged to introduce free medical care and free interest microfinance in his constituency.

    He advised the party never to discard a candidate with winning potential.

    The senator-elect said that he was glad for the PDP that gave him a platform to contest and he won.

    “I followed all the electoral process and I was declared unopposed in the primaries until it they started their manipulations.

    “I used to be in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and I am back home now.

    “My interest was in APC, but it was when I got there, we discovered that they don’t practice democracy,” Adeleke said.

    NAN

  • INEC registers 40,317 new voters in Kaduna

    INEC registers 40,317 new voters in Kaduna

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kaduna State, on Monday said it had so far registered 40, 317 eligible voters in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration Exercise.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the exercise began nationwide on April 27, ahead of the 2019 elections.

    The exercise, primarily taking place at the headquarters of the 774 local council areas, is expected to end two months before the general polls.

    Briefing journalists on Monday shortly after a meeting with stakeholders, Mr Nick Dazang, the INEC Administrative Secretary in the state, said that eight additional voters’ registration centres had been created.

    Dazang said that the action was to address the challenges of congestion and distance faced by eligible voters seeking to register.

    He explained that the decision to increase the registration centres was taken by INEC headquarters at a review meeting in Kaduna.

    The administrative secretary disclosed that 302 additional registration centres were created nationwide.

    “After due consideration, Kaduna state was allocated additional eight centres by the commission,” Dazang said.

    According to him, the new centres will only be functional till August 11, after which they will be closed down.

    The new centres are situated at Rigasa, Gonin Gora, Tudun Nupawa, Ungwan Shanu, Ladduga, Gidan Waya, Katugal and Kwarbai ‘B’.

    “Registration will commence at these additional centres from Monday, July 10 and end on August 11, 2017.

    “The commission urges the good people of Kaduna state to make good use of this opportunity by coming out enmasse to participate in the exercise, ” Dazang said.

  • Osun West: INEC has revived our hope in electoral system – Ekweremadu

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has congratulated the winner of the Osun West Senatorial District bye-election, Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on his victory, describing the poll as “a glimmer of hope for the nation’s electoral system.”

    Reacting to the outcome of the election, Ekweremadu said, it was not only victory for the PDP, but also more importantly, a victory for the nation’s democracy.

    He said: “I congratulate the Senator-elect, Ademola Adeleke, and our party faithful in Osun State in particular on this symbolic victory.

    “For our party, it shows that working together as one big family, we can always show strength, achieve great results, and surmount every obstacle in rebuilding the fortunes of our party and restoring good governance to the country.

    “It also appears the Independent National Electoral Commission is beginning to get it right in reviving hope and confidence of the people in the potency and sanctity of the ballot box. We will tread the path of cautious optimism, watching and believing that sanity is beginning to return to the electoral system, once again”.

    Ekweremadu commended the people of Osun West for their vigilance and peaceful conducts during the election, saying they not only voted, but also ensured that their votes counted in a peaceful atmosphere.

    He expressed confidence that the Senator-elect would provide robust and quality representation as his late brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, had done in the past.

  • INEC begins Melaye’s recall process today

    Barring any last-minute change of plans, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will today commence the recall process of Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on Thursday, rejected Melaye’s ex-parte motion for a temporary injunction to restrain INEC from proceeding with the recall process.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the timetable released by the INEC for Melaye’s recall process will run from July 10 (today) to August 19.

    However, supporters of the embattled senator have been pleading with some Christian clerics to intervene in the matter.

    A team headed by INEC National Commissioner might oversee the process, which may also involve its Operation Department.

    A top INEC official, who spoke in confidence, said: “There is no restraining order from any court. We will go ahead with the first leg. But if along the line, INEC is stopped from going ahead with the exercise, we will stop it.

    “Pasting the verification notice is just the first leg of the process, which cannot hurt Melaye in any way.

    “Even the process does not amount to removing the senator. By virtue of Section 110, a lawmaker is only opportune to gauge the mood of his or her constituents on his or her performance.

    “If a lawmaker is doing well, he or she should feel free to face the electorate. The process is not a setback at all for any lawmaker.”

    The source added: “A team to be coordinated by the National Commissioner for North central will oversee the process. Definitely, the Operation Department will be involved.

    “INEC will, however, seek legal opinion immediately it is served the ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    “We have subsisting court judgments, including those of the Court of Appeal, indicating that no court can stop a recall, which is like an election.”

     

  • BREAKING: INEC declares late Adeleke’s brother, Demola winner of Osun West bye-election

    BREAKING: INEC declares late Adeleke’s brother, Demola winner of Osun West bye-election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday announced Mr Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the winner of the Osun West Senatorial bye-election.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the election was held in 10 local government areas making up the district.

    The winner, who is the younger brother of the late Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, had 97, 480 votes to defeat a former senator, Mudashiru Hussein of the APC, who had 66, 116 votes,

    Announcing the result in Iwo, the Osun West Senatorial headquarters, Mr Baritor Kpagih, INEC Residential Electoral Commissioner for the bye-election, said Adeleke won nine out of the 10 local government areas where the election was held.

    He consequently returned Adeleke as senator to complete the tenure of the late Adeleke who died on April 23.

    He gave the breakdown of the election result as follows:

    Iwo Local Government: APC-12,205 PDP-12,547

    Olaoluwa Local Government: APC 5,316 PDP 5,618

    Ayedire Local Government: APC 5,360 PDP 5,789

    Ejigbo Local Government: APC 12,229 PDP 9,723

    Irewole Local Government: APC 8,952 PDP 9,096

    Ede North Local Government: APC 2,784 PDP 18,559

    Ede South Local Government: APC 2,096 PDP 13,406

    Ayedaade Local Government: APC 7179 PDP 9,061

    Egbedore Local Government: APC 4,768 PDP 7,142

    Isokan Local Government: APC 5227 PDP 6,539

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Adeleke would represent the senatorial district till 2019 when another election would be conducted.

    Although 12 political parties contested in the bye- election, the two major contenders were the PDP and APC.

     

     

    NAN

  • Osun West bye-election: Voters turn out in high numbers, commend INEC

    Osun West bye-election: Voters turn out in high numbers, commend INEC

    The Osun West bye-election witnessed a high turnout of voters on Saturday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    Voters across the 10 local government areas in the senatorial district also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the smooth conduct of the election so far.

    NAN reports that there was a large turnout of voters in most polling units visited while accreditation and voting were carried out without hitch.

    NAN also observed that the card readers did not malfunction in most polling units visited and there was also adequate security.

    Men of the Nigeria Police, army and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence were stationed in strategic locations in polling units while others were patrolling the major roads in the concerned local councils.

    The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Mudashiru Hussein, commended the electorate for coming out in large numbers to vote.

    Hussein, who cast his vote at 9:30 am at his Beulah Baptist Primary School Ward 3, Unit 1 in Ejigbo, commended INEC for a peaceful process.

    ” I want to commend the electorate for coming out en mass and I also want to commend INEC for this peaceful and orderly process.

    ” This process shows that INEC has improved tremendously,” he said.

    Hussein represented the district between 2011 and 2015.

    Former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Adejare Bello, who cast his vote at his Ologun Agbaakin Unit 4, Ward 3 Polling Unit in Ede North Local Government Area commended the electorate for the large turnout.

    Adejare, a member of the PDP, also commended INEC and security operatives for ensuring a peaceful process.

    ” The process has been peaceful since 7 am and I have not heard of any negative report.

    ” But I hope what is happening in my unit will be replicated in all the 911 polling units in the district,” the former speaker said.

    Also speaking, the younger sister of late Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, Modupe Sanni-Adeleke, commended the electorate for the massive turnout.

    Sanni-Adeleke voted at Alajue Ward 5, Unit 1, Ede South Polling Unit, also said that the electoral process was free and fair.

    ” I want to commend the INEC for the peaceful process and the electorate for the large turnout,’’ she said.

    Similarly, the speaker of state House of Assembly, Mr. Najeem Salaam, also commended the electorate for the massive turnout.

    Najeem , a member of APC, who cast his vote at 10:55 in Ilupeju 1, Ward 4, Unit 6 Polling Unit in Ejigbo, commended INEC for a peaceful process.

    ” The election process is in a perfect order and we have a very good outing.

    ” The turnout of the electorate is massive and INEC and the security operatives did well,” Salam said.

    Party agents of both the APC and PDP at the polling unit, Messrs Falade Mutiu and Azeez Ayanfe respectively, said the electoral process was peaceful, adding that the turnout was impressive.

    NAN also reports that there was massive turnout of the electorate in Iwo and Egbedore Local Government Areas of the state.

    Accreditation and voting commenced at 8am at most of the polling units visited and these would end at 6.pm.

    The election was prompted by the death of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, who was representing the district at the Senate, on April 23.

    Although 12 political parties are contesting in the bye- election, the two major contenders are the PDP and APC.

    The younger brother to late Adeleke, Ademola, is the candidate for PDP while Mudashiru Husein, who represented the district between 2011 and 2014, is the candidate of APC.

  • Melaye: INEC begins recall process Monday

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday, insisted it would go ahead with the recall process of Senator Dino Melaye, as the Commission is yet to be served any court ruling to halt the recall.

    The recall process is expected to begin on Monday, July 10.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on Thursday, rejected Melaye’s ex-parte motion for a temporary injunction to restrain INEC from proceeding with the recall process.

    Tsoho only asked the parties to maintain the status quo, pending the hearing of the Motion on Notice.

    A top official of the electoral commission who spoke to The Nation, stated that the recall process will go ahead.

    “As at the close of work, we were not served any order, ruling or a process from the Federal High Court.

    “Even if we had received any order from the court, our legal unit will still advise us on what the status quo means. We cannot act in vacuum.

    “Certainly, we are adhering to our timetable on the recall process. We are going ahead from Monday.

    “Any time we get a court order to stop the process, we will comply immediately,” the source said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the timetable released by the INEC for Melaye’s recall process will run from July 10 to August 19.