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Tag: INEC

  • Continuous Voters Registration exercise to run till 2019 election – INEC

    Continuous Voters Registration exercise to run till 2019 election – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said on Tuesday that the Continuous Voters Registration beginning nationwide on April 27, would run till few months to the 2019 general election.

    The INEC Secretary in Niger, Alhaji Aliyu Bungudu, made the disclosure at a one-day forum for election stakeholders held in Minna.

    He said that the registration exercise was to ensure that no eligible voter was denied the right to elect leaders of their choice.

    Bungudu assured the stakeholders that INEC would not shirk its responsibility in that regard, and urged them to mobilise the people to get registered.

    “The voter registration exercise will continue at the local government levels when it commence, till few months to the conduct of 2019 general elections.

    “The exercise will scale down to registration areas/wards and polling units that records zero registration during the last exercise.”

    He therefore called on eligible Nigerians who have attained the age of 18, to take the advantage of the exercise to be registered.

    The Secretary said that the voter registration would be conducted in public and open places for ease of access.

    Bungudu also appealed to those who registered but did not collected their permanent voter cards to come forward for collection.

    He solicited the support of politicians, traditional and religious leaders in mobilising the populace to participate in the exercise.

     

     

     

    NAN

  • 2015 elections: Court jails INEC staff for alleged N122.4m bribe

    A Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State has ordered that one Fidelia Omoile, a serving Independent National Electoral Commission’ s (INEC) official in Isoko- South Local Government Area of Delta State, to be remanded in prison custody for conspiracy and money laundering.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had accused Omoile of committing the crime ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    The anti-graft agency claimed that Omoile collected the sum of N112,480,000.00 (One Hundred and Twelve Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira), as a bribe during the countdown to the 2015 Presidential election from former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison- Madueke.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Omoile was arrested on 11 April, 2016 following a tip off received by the EFCC on the activities of some INEC Staff, who allegedly planned with some Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), in defrauding the Federal Government huge sums of money, running into millions of Naira.

    Count one of the charge reads: “That you Fidelia Omoile on or about the month of March, 2015 at Asaba within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to receive cash payment in the sum of N 112,480,000.00 (One Hundred and Twelve Million, Four Hindered and Eighty Thousand Naira only) exceeding the statutory limit without going through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2012 as amended and punishable under Section 15 (3) and (4) of the same Act.”

    Count two of the charge read: “That you Fidelia Omoile on or about the month of March, 2015 at Asaba within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did receive cash payment in the sum of N112,480,000.00 (One Hundred and Twelve Million, Four Hindered and Eighty Thousand Naira only) exceeding the statutory limit without going through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (a) of the Money laundering ( Prohibition) Act 2012 as amended and punishable under Section 16 (b) and (4) of the same Act.”

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to her.

    In view of her plea, prosecution counsel, Sadiq Hussaini, asked for a trial date and asked that the defendant be remanded in prison custody.

    However, counsel to the defendant, K. O Obamogie, made an oral application for bail of his client and urged the court to grant his prayers.

    In his verdict, Justice O. Efreti Abang rejected the defendant’ s application for bail, directing that the aplication be filed formally.

    He also adjourned the matter to 6th June, 2017 for hearing and ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of her bail.

  • 2019: ADP confirms payment of N1m registration fee to INEC

    2019: ADP confirms payment of N1m registration fee to INEC

    As the 2019 election year draws nearer, promoters of political parties have commenced the compulsory registration process with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that one of such proposed political party is Action Democratic Party, ADP which claims to have paid the mandatory N1m to the electoral umpire.

    A top member of the party, Dr. James Okoroma, whose name was forwarded to the commission as the National Secretary of the party, told newsmen that the ADP paid the compulsory fee in January this year.

    The Punch reports that Okoroma stated that the ADP also fulfilled the requirement for the submission of the list of its National Working Committee members to the commission in January.

    He said a team sent from the commission visited the ADP’s headquarters in Asokoro, Abuja, and concluded its verification for the process of the registration of the party in February.

    Okoroma added that the ADP was only waiting for its certificate of registration from INEC.

    According to him, members of the ADP National Working Committee, whose names were on the list submitted to INEC, are Yagbaji Sani (National Chairman), Mr. David Bichi, (National Legal Adviser), a former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Rex Onyeabo (National Chairman, South-East), a former Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Nojeem Awodele (National Vice Chairman, South West), and others.

    Okoroma said the planned party had several prominent politicians including senators, former ministers and others across the country.

    In his words: “Yes, that one (N1m) is mandatory. When you want to register, for you to pick up the form, you make that payment. And they (INEC) have done their verification, they have done everything.

    “They have come to verify our place, our structures, offices and the rest. We are just awaiting the certificate. We have offices in close to 30 states now; we even have local government and ward offices in some states.

    “We paid in January, submitted the list and they came for verification in February. They have done their verification. They came, they sent a team to our national headquarters and did their verification and they promised that they would do their work.”

    He said it was important to have a vibrant political party in the country as there was no longer what could be referred to as an opposition party in the country.

    However, when contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, could not confirm the claim that the ADP had fulfilled the conditions for registration.

    He said that he could not reach officials with the information to speak on the issue.

  • INEC staff refund Diezani bribe

    INEC staff refund Diezani bribe

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Thursday said some of its staff indicted in the N3.4bn bribe allegedly given by former Minister for Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke to influence the 2015 elections have returned their share.

    The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, disclosed this when he visited the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, in Abuja.

    A statement by spokesman of the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, quoted the INEC chairman as saying that 70 of the affected staff in three states were still in denial.

    According to the statement, Yakubu added that the staff would be referred to the EFCC for further investigation.

    The INEC chairman also said about five INEC political appointees, who are either National Commissioners or Resident Commissioners, were found wanting.

    Also indicted, he said, are 21 retired staff mostly acting under the aegis of WANEO (West African Network of Election Observers).

    Yakubu said 21 retirees had been blacklisted from monitoring elections and other activities organised by INEC in the future, according to Uwujaren.

    “If we get our election right, we get our democracy right as the right people will be elected and once we get our democracy right we will get national progress and development on track.

    “INEC is on the same page with the EFCC in this big responsibility of sanitising the country,’’ the INEC chairman was quoted saying.

    Responding, Magu was said to have expressed the anti-graft agency’s readiness to prosecute all the indicted INEC staff.

    “We are already prosecuting some of the INEC staff, we have started in Lagos and we are in the process in Port-Harcourt, Kano and Gombe,’’ Magu reportedly said.

    He said, “What you have done will change the course of electioneering in this country, by bringing in sanity and credibility.While expressing satisfaction with the collaboration between both agencies, Magu commended the INEC boss for supporting the investigation involving some of his staff members.

    “It will send a signal and serve as deterrent to any person who may wish to perpetrate fraud in the electoral process whether as a monitor or staff of INEC.’’

    Magu assured INEC of continued support from the EFCC, noting that the agency’s functions are central to the future of the country, and that the next election must be different.

    Uwujaren said the INEC boss was accompanied on the visit by other management staff of the commission, including Hajiya Amina Zakari, Mr Baba Shetima and Prof. Okey Ibeanu.

  • 2015 elections: Indicted INEC officials have refunded bribe money – Chairman

    2015 elections: Indicted INEC officials have refunded bribe money – Chairman

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday said some of its staff accused of benefiting from a N3.4 billion bribe money in the 2015 general elections have refunded their share.

    The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, disclosed this when he visited the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, in Abuja.

    A statement by spokesman of the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, quoted the INEC chairman as saying that 70 of the affected staff in three states were still in denial.

    Yakubu, according to Uwujaren, said they would be referred to the EFCC for further investigation.

    The INEC chairman also said about five INEC political appointees, who are either National Commissioners or Resident Commissioners, were found wanting.

    Also indicted, he said, are 21 retired staff mostly acting under the aegis of WANEO (West African Network of Election Observers).

    Yakubu said 21 retirees had been blacklisted from monitoring elections and other activities organised by INEC in the future, according to Uwujaren.

    “If we get our election right, we get our democracy right as the right people will be elected and once we get our democracy right we will get national progress and development on track.

    “INEC is on the same page with the EFCC in this big responsibility of sanitising the country,’’ the INEC chairman was quoted saying.

    Responding, Magu was said to have expressed the anti-graft agency’s readiness to prosecute all the indicted INEC staff.

    “We are already prosecuting some of the INEC staff, we have started in Lagos and we are in the process in Port-Harcourt, Kano and Gombe,’’ Magu reportedly said.

    While expressing satisfaction with the collaboration between both agencies, Magu commended the INEC boss for supporting the investigation involving some of his staff members.

    He said: “What you have done will change the course of electioneering in this country, by bringing in sanity and credibility.

    “It will send a signal and serve as deterrent to any person who may wish to perpetrate fraud in the electoral process whether as a monitor or staff of INEC.’’

    Magu assured INEC of continued support from the EFCC, noting that the agency’s functions are central to the future of the country, and that the next election must be different.

    Uwujaren said the INEC boss was accompanied on the visit by other management staff of the commission, including Hajiya Amina Zakari, Mr Baba Shetima and Prof. Okey Ibeanu.

     

     

    NAN

  • 2015 elections: ‘Our officials received N3bn bribe’ Says INEC

    2015 elections: ‘Our officials received N3bn bribe’ Says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that its staff received at least three billion Naira to influence the outcome of the 2015 general elections.

    Some members of the electoral body, including one of its retired National Commissioner, and five Resident Electoral Commissioners are currently under investigation for their alleged involvement in the N23 billion election bribe.

    Mohammed Haruna, INEC’s National Commissioner disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja, while addressing journalists.

    Haruna said, “The commission met today (Tuesday) to consider the report of its expanded Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee on the EFCC Interim Report on Bribery, Corruption and Money Laundering Charges during the 2015 general elections.

    “You may recall that late last year, the commission received an interim report from the EFCC detailing allegations against 202 serving and retired INEC officials and staff in 16 states of the federation.

    “In furtherance of its zero tolerance for corruption in the electoral process, the commission ordered a thorough investigation into the allegations to establish the culpability or otherwise of those named in the EFCC report.

    “The committee’s work was thorough and painstaking, involving the issuance of queries to the 202 officials mentioned in the report and interviewing them individually in accordance with the principle of fair hearing and in consonance with INEC Staff Conditions of Service.

    “As a result of the initial findings of the committee, an additional 80 serving officials of the commission, who were not named in the EFCC report but whose names came up in the course of the investigation, were also queried and interviewed.

    “The cases of one former National Commissioner, five former Resident Electoral Commissioners (one of them deceased) have been referred to the Presidency and the EFCC for further necessary action.

    “Based on their level of involvement, 205 serving INEC staff will be immediately placed on interdiction, which entails suspension from duties and being placed on half salary, pending the final determination of the cases they have with the EFCC.”

    Haruna added that a non-governmental organisation identified as West African Network of Election Observers made up of retired INEC officials was used to bribe INEC staff to influence the outcome of the 2015 general elections.

    He stated that INEC staff received N3,046,829,000 in 16 states of the federation to influence the outcome of the election.

    “There was a clear attempt to bribe INEC staff to influence the outcome of the 2015 general elections using an NGO, West African Network of Election Observers, made up mainly of retired senior INEC officials.

    “Out of over N23bn, which the EFCC report said was used to influence the elections, the committee established that N3,046,829,000 was received by INEC staff in 16 states,” he added.

  • JUST IN: Court fixes May 12 for ruling in corruption case against 23 INEC officials

    Justice John Tsoho of Federal High Court Abuja on Friday fixed May 12 for ruling in an application by 23 officials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the suit against them.

    Justice Tsoho adjourned the matter after listening to arguments from the prosecution and defence counsel.

    TneNewsGuru.com reports that the officials were docked for allegedly receiving N360million from Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers during the Dec. 10, 2016 re-rerun election in the State.

    The accused were to enter their plea on March 14 to a seven-count charge bordering on bribery.

    Counsel to the 1st to 20th defendants Mr Ahmed Raji, had in the last sitting, informed the court of the application he filed, questioning the territorial jurisdiction of the court in the matter.

    The other defence counsel, Mr Ukpan Ukairo and Mr E. A. Nwauwa, also filed an application challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

    At the resumed hearing, Raji observed that the exhibits of the complainant attached to the counter affidavit of the police, were deposed to by one Numa Ganawo Wande, a litigation officer in the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

    He said the exhibits, marked annexures A, B, C and D, were mere photographs of dead police officers and weapons.

    Raji argued that in accordance with the provisions of Section 84 of the Evidence Act, the exhibits were “inadmissible in law”.

    He insisted that a litigation officer in the AGF’s office “is not in a better position to depose to what transpired in Port-Harcourt.

    “He is here in Maitama and is deposing to an affidavit on events that happened in Port-Harcourt.

    “My Lord, allowing this will amount to setting a dangerous precedent whereby pictures of alleged crimes will be gathered from different parts of the country and used by the complainant for prosecution”, he said.

    He also said the complainant had not placed any evidence in court that there was a state of insecurity in Port Harcourt to warrant the trial of the defendants over there.

    Raji, therefore, urged the court to strike out the matter or transfer it to Port Harcourt for the defendants’ arraignment.

    Ukairo and Nwauwa, who aligned themselves with Raji’s motion, said their application was also on the question of the court’s jurisdiction in the matter.

    They said since the offence was committed in Port Harcourt, it would be better for the case to be transferred to High Court in Port Harcourt or the matter be stuck out by the court.

    Mr Aliyu Alilu, Assistant Chief State Counsel for the prosecution, opposed the application of the defence team.

    He described the application of Raji challenging the validity of the counter-affidavit deposed to by the litigation office in the office of the AGF as a “misconception.”

    “The deponent, Wande, got briefing from Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dan Okoro, who headed the IGPs special investigation team.

    “I, therefore, urge the court to dismiss the application made by the 1st to 20th defendants for lack of merit.

    “As for the application of the 21st to 23rd defendants, we got their application this morning but we shall be replying on point of law to avoid further delay in this matter”, Alilu said.

     

    NAN

  • INEC presents 2017-2021 Strategic Plan to Senate

    The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Yakubu Mahmood, on Thursday, presented the commission’s 2017-2021 Strategic Plan to President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki.

    At the ceremony at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, Mahmood said that the plan would guide the commission on every step to be taken in the electoral process, even beyond 2019 elections.

    According to him, the commission is working on a very clear plan to ensure the success of the 2019 general elections.

    “What helped the 2015 general elections was the existence of a very clear Strategic Plan that covered the last electoral cycle. That plan expired last year.

    “Last year, we began work on the new Strategic Plan to cover the current electoral cycle. It is a five-year plan covering the period 2017-2021,” he said.

    Mahmoud said that INEC had gone through all the processes of the strategic plan, including the validation of the document by stakeholders.

    “The Strategic Plan comes with a programme of action so that between now and 2019 and beyond, we know exactly what INEC is going to do on daily, monthly and quarterly basis and we will be tracking.

    “Gone are the days when elections are done on a pre-fixed basis. There has to be very clear parameters,” he said.

    He commended the Senate for the quick amendment of the Electoral Act, saying that it had come well ahead of the 2019 election.

    According to the chairman, one of the problems Nigeria has had is that amendment of the Electoral Act comes on the eve of elections.

    He said that the amendment of the Act by the Senate was remarkable because it was one of the most extensive exercises.

    “We worked with the Senate Committee on INEC, and we produced our own submission.

    “I’m happy to say that virtually all the submissions we made had been taken care of.”

    Mahmoud added that the amendment was one of the “most technologically-friendly amendments of the Act in the history of the country’’.

    In his remarks, Saraki said that the amendment of the Electoral Act and Constitution would help to improve Nigeria’s electoral process.

    According to Saraki, the use of technology in elections would help the commission meet international best practices.

    “The application of technology is something that has to happen. It gives you the power to apply that appropriately,” he said.

    He assured INEC of Senate’s support, saying that the Strategic Plan showed that the commission was committed to ensuring free and fair elections that Nigerians would be proud of.

     

     

    NAN

  • Rivers Rerun: INEC confirms outbreak of violence, says 25 workers hospitalized

    Rivers Rerun: INEC confirms outbreak of violence, says 25 workers hospitalized

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on Monday confirmed the outbreak of violence in the just concluded Rivers supplementary elections held on Saturday in Etche that lead to the hospitalization of over 25 of its workforce.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak, told newsmen in Port Harcourt that the victims were attacked and wounded by Rivers people.

    According to him, one of the victims regained consciousness on Sunday.

    ”This is one area that Nigerians should ask questions: over 25 INEC staff members are in hospital today because the people of Rivers State decided to either kill or wound them.

    ”They were all beaten up because they went to those villages to conduct an election.

    ”Let the people of Rivers State tell us the offence of any of them.

    ”What did they do? They were bringing materials for the election; they decided to descend on them, beat them up, collect their personal belongings and run away,” he said.

    Ikoiwak noted that the victims were on official duties and needed a peaceful environment to achieve success.

    He called on Nigerians to condemn the alleged attack.

    “It is very sad. None of them was beaten up in his home but where they went to conduct an election.

    ”Why shouldn’t Nigerians discuss that? Why should people sent to conduct an election be beaten up and their belongings taken away from them?” he asked.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that about 700 staff members of the commission were mobilised for the supplementary legislative election in Etche.

    TheNewsGuru.com also reports that the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC had withdrawn from partaking in the supplementary elections few weeks back following issues of security concerns.

     

    NAN

  • why we released Rivers supplementary election result – INEC

    why we released Rivers supplementary election result – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission said that the result of the supplementary election held in Etche, Rivers was announced in Port Harcourt because of security reasons.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that the result was not declared in Etche but in Port Harcourt.

    He explained that certain circumstances made the returning officer of the Etche/Omuma federal constituency to declare the result by simple majority in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

    Ikoiwak explained that after collating the result in Etche by 2 a.m., the returning officer needed to consult a relevant section of the law to be able to declare the result.

    He explained that the officer needed the law because he felt that areas where the election was cancelled were many.

    Ikoiwak said that at 2 a.m., the law department of the commission could not go to Etche with the law due to security reasons and the officer was advised to come down to Port Harcourt.

    He said that the officer was equally advised to tell the people, including the political parties at Etche to come to the INEC headquarters in the state at 9 a.m for declaration of the result.

    ”If that form is stolen, they have to go back for printing of that form before such form can be used.

    ”INEC does not produce more than one result form for one particular election.

    ”And so, if somebody has filled his result on that form, it means there is no other form he can use to do any other thing.

    According to him, what we conducted is supplementary election. A supplementary election is different from a normal or rerun election and the issue of margin of votes does not come in.

    Ikoiwak said that the simple majority was what the law prescribed in supplementary elections.

    ”Election was conducted in Etche and collation done in Etche until 2 a.m when the returning officer finished collation and he wanted interpretation whether he should make a declaration or declare the election inconclusive.

    ”And he needed a written section of the law which permits him to do a declaration and that was 2 a.m in Etche.

    He said that when the returning officer got the section of the law, it was clear that a supplementary election could be declared on a simple majority.

    ”All the returning officer did was to explain that he was satisfied that he could now make the declaration,” he said.

    Ikoiwak said that the returning officer went ahead and declared; there was no collation because collation was already completed.

    He urged the public to try to find out things about INEC, adding, ”we have to do our work even though we are working in a very dangerous circumstance.

    ”No need to say because people are trying to kill you so you will not follow the work according to the rule,” he said.

    According to him, we must know that there are law in this country and the section is covered by law; so whatever we do, we should do it based on the law of that election.

    ”So, what we did was the right thing by declaring, we are not interested in who won, what we know was to declare whosoever was voted for,” he said.