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Tag: REC

  • Adamawa re-run: Shehu Sanni reveals what will happen next

    Adamawa re-run: Shehu Sanni reveals what will happen next

    Former Kaduna  lawmaker, Shehu Sani has revealed the next thing to happen in the debacle in the rerun gubernatorial election in Adamawa State.

    Sanni noted that the next plan is to obtain a court injunction as a backup plan.

    The Kaduna born politician made this post via his verified Twitter handle on Monday.

    “The next trick is to rush to the Court and get an injunction that will back up their daylight fraud,” Sani tweeted.

    Recall that the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Hudu Yunusa, illegally declared Aisha Dahiru winner after the gubernatorial supplementary election held on Sunday.

    However, the INEC swiftly denounced the purported declaration and suspended the collation of results of the supplementary election.

    The commission further summoned the REC to Abuja.

  • We conducted hitch-free supplementary election – Oyo REC

    We conducted hitch-free supplementary election – Oyo REC

    Dr. Adeniran Tella, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, says the supplementary election conducted in two Federal Constituencies in the state on Saturday was hitch-free.

    Tella made this known while addressing newsmen after monitoring the exercise in the eight polling units spread across the two affected Federal Constituencies in Oluyole and Ibadan North-East/Ibadan South-East Constituencies.

    According to him, the supplementary election has been peaceful and free of any form of violence.

    He said that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used in all the polling units worked perfectly well.

    Tella commended the voters in the concerned polling units for coming out to exercise their franchise.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that voters in the affected polling units were seen on queues while INEC officials were attending to them for accreditation and voting.

    The party agents of the two major contesting political parties- All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were present in all the polling units.

    The presence of security personnel, namely Army, Police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) were noticed.

    A cross-section of the voters at the polling units commended the electoral body for the smooth conduct of the election.

    Commenting, the PDP Vice-Chairman South-West, Taofeek Arapaja, lauded the efforts of INEC for the smooth conduct of the supplementary election.

    Arapaja said reports received from all the polling units showed that the commission adequately prepared for the election with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) working perfectly well.

    Also, Mr Israel Oguntobi, a Chieftain of APC, acknowledged the peaceful atmosphere that characterised conduct of the election in all the polling units where elections were held.

    Oguntobi commended security agencies for ensuring adequate security at the polling units.

    NAN also reports that the supplementary elections were held at two polling units in Oluyole Federal Constituency.

    The polling units were: RA 02/U001, located inside Abbey Technical College, Akala Way, new Garage and RA 07/U001 situated inside IDC School, Olurinde area, both in Ibadan.

    Election for the Ibadan North-East/Ibadan South-East Federal Constituency were held in six polling units namely: RA 07/U011 at Aborisade Compound; RA 09/U 011 at Atipe Junction I and RA 09/U030, Queen of Apostle, Oluyoro III.

    Others were RA 07/U001 at C.A.C. Grammar School, Oniyere; RA 07/U018 at Government Secondary School, Orita Aperin and RA 12/U 032 located at Falana Mobil Station II area.

  • We didn’t remove Igbo, South-south names from election duties – INEC

    We didn’t remove Igbo, South-south names from election duties – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it did not remove the names of Igbo and South South people from the list of ad hoc staff for Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Lagos State.

    There are rumours making the rounds on social media has it that the electoral umpire in Lagos removed all Igbo and South-South staff from sensitive election duties for March 18 elections.

    Reacting, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos State, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, in a statement on Wednesday evening by Mrs Adenike Tadese, Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, described the allegations as fake news which should be ignored.

    Agbaje said: “INEC, Lagos State, read with great surprise and concern on the social media in respect of the removal of all Igbos and South South staff in Lagos State from participating as ad hoc staff in the state during the forthcoming Governorship and House of Assembly elections on March 18.

    “It has become imperative to correct the erroneous accusations in some quarters and put the record straight that the Ad hoc staff (Collation Officers) engaged during the Presidential and National Assembly Elections on Feb. 25 in Lagos State were 738 in number, bearing in mind that three elections were held.

    “The forthcoming Governorship and House of Assembly will only require the services of 427 Collation Officers because only two elections are involved.

    “It is pertinent to state unequivocally that members of staff that are Igbos were all returned to work as Collation Officers in the forthcoming elections while SPOs (Supervisory Presiding Officers) maintained their positions.”

    Agbaje said that he did not at any point in time engage in any phone conversation with the  “Obidients, Sanwo-Olu and Tinubu”

    According to him, in fact, he does not have their telephone numbers.

    Agbaje added: “Whoever that has information concerning the day and time of the said telephone conversation should not hesitate to make it public.”.

    He urged members of the public to shun fake news, misinformation and disinformation and allow INEC in Lagos to focus on the forthcoming elections, in order to achieve the desires results.

    “The commission will continue to uphold the fundamental principles of equity, fairness, transparency, credibility and accountability in line with the vision and mission to be a pre-eminent leader in deepening electoral democracy as an unbiased election management body,” he said.

  • Elections: It’s an offence to make calls at polling units – Ogun REC cautions

    Elections: It’s an offence to make calls at polling units – Ogun REC cautions

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Wednesday cautioned voters against the use of mobile phones at the polling units during Saturday’s election, declaring that it is a criminal offence.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ogun State, Niyi Ijalaye, gave the warning in Abeokuta while addressing journalists shortly after a meeting with heads of security agencies in the state.

    According to him, voters would not be allowed to make calls or take photographs with their mobile phones while casting their votes.

    Ijalaye further expressed the preparedness of the electoral body to conduct a free, fair and credible election with the support of the various security agencies and other stakeholders.

    According to him, we have been strategising and strategising on the way forward to ensure that elections in Ogun State will be devoid of rancour or violence of any sort whatsoever. We want to appeal to the good people of the Gateway State to endeavour to just come out peacefully on Saturday to exercise their franchise and vote for candidates and parties of their choice.”

    “On no account will violence of any sort be tolerated in this state. Maybe I need to emphasise this also that on voting day when people come to the polling booths with their phones when they approach the polling officer and they want to go in with their phones, they will not be allowed to use their phones to discuss with people or take pictures at that polling point where they will be voting. It is an offence, it is a crime and it will not be allowed.”

    We appeal to those people who wish to come there with their phones to, maybe switch it off for that one or two minutes, so that everybody would be seen to be acting within the law.”

    On his part, Ogun State Commissioner of Police Frank Mba called on security agents deployed for the election to maintain political neutrality and provide a level playing field for all the political parties.

  • Adeleke’s certificates, not in our custody, Osun REC tells tribunal

    Adeleke’s certificates, not in our custody, Osun REC tells tribunal

    Dr. Mutiu Agboke, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun, says the commission is no longer in possession of Sen. Ademola Adeleke’s Form CF 001 used in the 2018 governorship election.

    Recall that the tribunal had earlier granted subpoena application to the petitioners, compelling the REC to produce Adeleke’s Form CF 001.

    Form CF 001 is the nomination form and all its attachments, including the certificates used in the 2018 election.

    Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola and APC had on Aug. 5 submitted a petition before the tribunal in Osogbo.

    Oyetola and APC are challenging the election results from 749 polling units across 10 local government areas of the state for various alleged electoral malpractice, especially over-voting.

    INEC had declared Adeleke as the winner of the July 16 governorship election, having polled 403, 271 votes against 375,027 polled by Oyetola.

    At the resumed hearing on Tuesday in Osogbo, Counsel to the petitioners, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), reminded the tribunal of the subpoena it granted and served on REC on Nov.15.

    Olujinmi told the tribunal that the subpoena on REC has yet to be obeyed and as such his second witness in the petition could not be called.

    According to him, the testimony of the witness would be based on the said documents.

    Counsel for the first respondent, INEC, Paul Ananaba, told the court that the REC had sent a representative to appear before the tribunal on the order of the subpoena.

    The REC representative, Mr Sheu Mohammed, who is INEC Deputy Director on Election and Party Management, told the tribunal that the said Adeleke’s Form CF 001 was no longer with the commission in the state.

    Mohammed said after the 2018 governorship election, the said documents were submitted to INEC headquarters in Abuja, adding that they only have the photocopies of the said documents in the state.

    “The Form CF 001 documents was submitted to INEC headquarters through the party, but photocopies were given to us for the purpose of record.

    “What we have here in the state is Form EC8A series, after the election litigation,” he said.

    The petitioners’ counsel said the REC had the duty to go to INEC headquarters to obtain the said documents.

    “Until your lordship discharge the subpoena, it is the duty of the REC to obey it and it remains.

    “I am applying that your lordship direct INEC Chief Officer or any of his officer he may direct to produce the true certified copy of INEC Form CF 001, including all the attached documents,” he said.

    But, Ananaba disagreed with the petitioners’ counsel, adding that REC could not ordered INEC headquarters to produce the said certificate.

    “The subpoena is incompetent and my position is that REC has complied with subpoena.

    “The representative of REC is here and REC is different from INEC.

    “So, the subpoena has been complied with, because the representative of REC is here to tell the court he is not in custody of the said documents,” he said.

    In his objection, Adeleke’s Counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), said that since the documents requested to be produced by INEC are Certified True Copies (CTC), it could be applied and paid for, without necessarily bringing to the court.

    Ikpeazu said based on the fact that the petitioners already have CTC at their disposal, they should be compelled to continue with the calling of the witnesses whose testimony hanged on the documents requested from INEC.

    Also, Counsel to the third respondent (PDP), Alex Izinyon (SAN), also said that since the petitioners already have the documents in question, they should be compelled to call the witness.

    After the arguments and counter arguments by the counsels, the tribunal Chairman, Justice Tertsea Kume, adjourned further hearing until Nov. 25 to rule on the subpoena application.

    Meanwhile, the second witness called by the petitioners, Rasak Adeosun, told the tribunal that there were irregularities and over voting during the election.

    Adeosun, who is the Returning Officer for the petitioner in Olorunda Local Government area, while being cross examined by counsel to respondents, told the tribunal that BVAS was not used for the election in 749 polling units in 10 local government areas.

    Adeosun, who is also Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Oyetola, said he received reports of the happenings in the polling units on the election day.

    The witness said he discovered that there was no substantial compliance with the INEC’s guidelines and the Electoral Act in the contentious 749 polling units.

    NAN

  • INEC redeploys 2 RECs, 8 directors

    INEC redeploys 2 RECs, 8 directors

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has redeployed two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and eight directorate level members of staff.

    The commission disclosed this in a statement by National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The redeployed RECs according to Okoye were Dr Cyril Omorogbe from Cross River to Akwa-Ibom; and Dr Alalibo Sinikiem from Edo to Rivers.

    The eight directors redeployed were Paul Omokore from Planning and Monitoring Department, Headquarters to be the Director of ICT at the Headquarters, Abuja.

    Also the Director of ICT, Chidi Nwafor has been redeployed from the headquarters to Enugu as the state Administrative Secretary.

    Similarly, Mr Chima, the Administrative Secretary, Anambra State was directed to resume as the Director, Planning and Monitoring Department, Headquarters, Abuja; while Mr Jude Okwuanu, the Administrative Secretary of Enugu State, has been moved to Anambra State as the state Administrative Secretary.

    Others include Usman Wase, the acting Director, Human Resource Management, Headquarters redeployed as acting Administrative Secretary, Nasarawa State; while Mr Salisu Garba the Director in the Electoral Operations Department was deployed to take over as Director Procurement, Headquarters, Abuja.

    The commission also redeployed the acting Administrative Secretary, Waziri Zanna FCT, to be acting Director, Human Resource Management, Headquarters, Abuja.

    The statement also said that Godwin Edibo, the acting Administrative Secretary of Nasarawa State is to resume as the acting Administrative Secretary of FCT.

    Okoye explained that the redeployment was in line with the extant policy.

    He said that the redeployments/postings take immediate effect, while handing and taking over should be concluded on/or before Friday Aug. 26.

    Okoye recalled that on March 24, the commission redeployed 385 members of staff nationwide.

    He said that redeployment and posting was a routine exercise.

  • INEC staff not arrested anywhere in Lagos— REC

    INEC staff not arrested anywhere in Lagos— REC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State on Saturday debunked reports of the arrest of its officials over the alleged creation of an illegal voter enrollment centre.

    INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC)  in Lagos state, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, made this clarification in an interview with newsmen.

    Newsmen recall that some media outfits had reported that three officials of INEC in the state, were arrested by Police officers from the police station in Ijeshatedo for allegedly conspiring with St. Briggs Catholic Church, Ijeshatedo, Lagos, to create an illegal Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) centre in the church.

    Reacting, Agbaje described the news report as fake news.

    “All my staff and machines are complete. No member of INEC staff was arrested anywhere in Lagos on Friday,” the REC said.

    Recall that  INEC on Friday, debunked the reported invasion of the same CVR centre by thugs and carting away of its enrollment machines.

    There had been a huge surge in most voter enrollment centres in the state ahead of the July 31 CVR deadline.

  • Kwara REC says INEC has no duty conducting parties primary election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara, Malam Garba Attahiru-Madami, has disclosed that INEC has no duty conducting primary elections of political parties.

    He made this known on Thursday in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin.

    Garba was reacting to a radio programme on Harmony FM where a politician complained that there was no primary election of Moro/Edu Federal constituency, and called on the REC to ensure justice, fairness, and equity for all political parties.

    “It is rather unfortunate that politicians that are supposed to know about the conduct of primary election do not know.

    “INEC has nothing to do with primary elections of political parties, political parties handle their primaries, and it is their show.e

    “They can do it the way they like, our own is to monitor the process and write our reports.

    “If any member of any political party is not satisfied with what was done, he or she is free to go to court.

    “It is when they go to court that the judge will ask for INEC’s report that observed and monitored that election, that is where we will come in to produce the report we wrote on that particular primary.

    “Most of the politicians and political parties are ignorant of that. The primary election is their own jurisdiction, they are the one empowered to conduct their primaries,” the REC added.

    Attahiru-Madami said that the primary elections of political parties INEC officials monitored went well, adding that there were pockets of problems, but the parties resolved them.

    He reiterated his determination to ensure that the 2023 elections are free, fair, and credible.

  • INEC commences distribution of over 44, 000 PVCs in Kwara

    INEC commences distribution of over 44, 000 PVCs in Kwara

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kwara will on Saturday commence the distribution of over 44, 000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to newly registered voters in the state.

    INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Malam Garba Madami, disclosed this to newsmen on Friday in Ilorin.

    Madami said that the collection of the PVCs would take place in all the 16 local government offices of the commission and added that they were for those who registered between June and December 2021.

    “In Kwara State, we have received 44,506 PVCs,” Madami said.

    He urged the new registrants within the period to approach INEC offices across the 16 Local Government Areas in the state for collection.

    The resident electoral commissioner added that the collection would be from 9a.m. and 3p.m. daily except on weekends.

    He appealed to the people of the state to avail themselves of the opportunity of devolution of registration to wards to register for their PVCs.

    Madami warned the people against double registration, adding that it was a criminal offence to register more than once.

    The REC urged Nigerians that just turned 18 years and above or those who had not registered before now to start the process online.

    According to him, they should log on to CVR.inecnigeria.org and visit the registration areas at the local government INEC offices or INEC state office to complete the registration.

    Madami implored the eligible residents to take full advantage of the rotational exercise at the ward level to register.

    Newsmen reports that the third quarter of PVC registration ended on March 30, while the fourth and last quarter commenced on April 17 and will end in June.

  • Lagos gets new INEC REC

    Lagos gets new INEC REC

    A new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) has been appointed for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the new INEC REC for Lagos State is Mr Olusegun Agbaje, the immediate past INEC REC in Ogun.

    Mrs Adenike Oriowo, INEC Public Affairs Officer in Lagos State, on Tuesday confirmed that the new commissioner had reported for duty.

    Oriowo said that Agbaje assumed duty at the state headquarters of the commission in Yaba after Mr Sam Olumekun, the former REC handed over to him.

    The public affairs officer said that Agbaje’s deployment to Lagos State followed the appointment of Olumekun as a National Commissioner of INEC in charge of Ekiti, Oyo and Lagos States.

    Oriowo said Agbaje, while addressing staff members sought their cooperation and that of stakeholders for the success of the electoral body’s operations.

    She said that Agbaje, who described himself as a workaholic having worked in about four states, implored the staff to give the similar support they gave to Olumekun.

    Olumekun is one of the six newly sworn-in National Commissioner of INEC by President Muhammadu Buhari on Feb. 23.