The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, has vowed to resign his appointment if the Supreme Court finds the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guilty in the conduct of the recently concluded governorship election in the state.
Agbaje said this in his speech in Osogbo on Wednesday during the presentation of Certificate of Return to the Osun State governor-elect, Gboyega Oyetola, of the All Progressives Congress.
Oyetola and the Deputy Governor-elect, Mr. Benedict Alabi, were given the Certificate of Return by the National Electoral Commissioner representing Oyo, Osun and Ekiti States, Mr. Solomon Soyebi, at the INEC office in Osogbo.
The REC said those who were dissatisfied with the outcome of the election had the right to seek redress at election petition tribunal where their case would be examined by the panel.
Agbaje said he and other INEC officials were very neutral and that they did not do anything to give any of the contestants undue advantage over others.
He said, “Nevertheless, I want to reassure the good people of Osun State, particularly our royal fathers and religious leaders, that I was extremely neutral throughout the period of the election. I can positively stress that my staff also did.
“However, if, at the end of litigation at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the Commission is found culpable of not discharging its responsibility faithfully and diligently, I will take full responsibility for any such laxity, publicly apologise to all Nigerians and thereafter resign my appointment with the commission.”
Tag: REC
-
Osun Rerun: I’ll apologise, resign if S'Court faults INEC for declaring Oyetola winner– REC
-
We won’t tolerate vote-buying in Osun governorship election – REC
The Sept. 22 governorship election in Osun will be free of vote-buying, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Osun has assured.
Agbaje gave the assurance while addressing newsmen at the Osun Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Correspondent Chapel in Osogbo on Thursday.
He said toward achieving the set goal, the commission had commenced repositiong its operations to prevent such negative development during the forthcoming and subsequent elections in the area.
“We are making arrangements to reposition the voting cubicle so that ballot papers cannot be shown to another person after thump-printing on it.
“We are also looking at putting one of the three security officers closer to the cubicles so that showing of ballot papers would be prevented.
“We are working with INEC headquarters to see how we can prevent voters from taking their phones into the cubicles.
“This is to prevent them from taking pictures of their ballots, with a view to exchanging it for money.
“We have also spoken with the Commissioner of Police and heads of other security outfits, to go round the polling units during the elections and arrest anybody buying or selling votes.
“In the same vein, I will also be going round the polling units too and arrest people who engage in vote buying, as there is something called civilian arrest, “he said.
He said the commission was embarrassed by the reports of vote buying during elections, noting that the allegation was worrisome.
“It is embarrassing to have three security agents at a polling unit and vote buying still takes place right in their presence.
“We have been talking with politicians because if they don’t bring money to the polling units, no electorate will be selling his or her vote. According to law, vote buying is a serious offense.“
According to Agbaje, the commission is desirous of having a successful election in Osun, adding that whatever happens in the conduct of the election will reflect 2019 general elections.
He called on media practitioners to support the commission “at this crucial time, “ stressing that voting-buying was capable marring the credibility of elections in the country, if not arrested.
-
Ekiti 2018: I’ve been receiving strange, threatening calls, text messages – REC
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Prof. Abdulganiyu Raji, has raised the alarm over receiving constant strange, threatening calls and text messages who politicians in the state.
Raji said, “Most of these threats are from elders alleging that we are one-sided.
“But they have forgotten that there are two sides to a coin, if you don’t want INEC to do some things, you too must be cautious. How could a party go and induce INEC members of staff? This is unacceptable.
“We will use over 10,000 youth corps members for this election, can all of them be saints? Some will misbehave but we have to use an appropriate way to deal with them.
“Let me assure you this, I have told you that I will abide by the rules and I know my members of staff will comply with my stand,” he assured.
Speaking at a Stakeholders’ Forum in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, Raji said no fewer than 23 political parties had formally notified the commission of their primaries.
He, however, said only 21 out of the 42 political parties existing in Ekiti were qualified to participate in the July 14 governorship poll.
He appealed to all security agencies in the state to come to the aid of the commission by fortifying security around INEC officials as well as the over 10,000 corps members to be used for the conduct of the election.
The state Commissioner of Police, Abdullahi Chafe, warned political parties and aspirants participating in the July 14 gubernatorial election against embarking on campaigns without first seeking clearance.
He said this was without prejudice to the need for cooperation with other agencies.
According to him, other security agencies are also to enforce the laws guiding such rallies and processions, particularly those specified in sections 94, 95 and 96 of the Electoral Act 2010 that forbid certain conduct at political rallies, procession and campaigns.
He warned that since punishments were prescribed for misconduct, the police and other security agencies had a duty to arrest erring persons and bring them to justice.
The police boss, who announced that he would be retiring from the service on the very day the APC would be conducting its gubernatorial primary on May 5, 2018, clarified that a new police commissioner to be soon deployed, would start from where he would end.
He said the command was ready for the election, and that security of lives and property of residents and officials were guaranteed.
-
Sierra Leonean NEC advises Nigerians on whom to vote for in 2019
Mrs Miatta French, Electoral Commissioner, National Electoral Commission (NEC) of Sierra Leone, on Thursday urged Nigerians to, in spite of politicians’ inducements, vote according to their consciences in 2019 elections.
French was in Abuja at the instance of Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA), for “Watch the Vote Discussion’’ on lessons from Sierra Leone experiences in the just-concluded general elections in that country.
According to her, the African population is becoming very smart to the point of knowing credible leaders that will bring positive change above enticing freebies they share during elections.
“Sierra Leone witnessed an interesting trend in the just-concluded elections where, though people were offered money, they still voted for their consciences, and that was very clear in that this election.
“People have become extremely smart and it showed in the election because if anybody had told the ruling party that they would lose the election based on the size of their rallies, they would have said it was not possible.
“So, now we know that politicians can give people the money if they want to but it won’t translate to vote for them and that is a good one because it is stalling vote buying,’’ she said.
French also advised Nigerian public servants against partisanship, saying that the Sierra Leonean NEC observed during the recent elections that such acts affected the commitment of the public workers to their duties.
She said that most times, public servants complained of being marginalized or removed from their duty post after election because they did not belong to the ruling party.
The commissioner, however, said that this could be avoided if public servants learnt to be neutral in political matters and during political parties’ campaigns.
“Our public service has not learnt the discipline of not going along with campaigns; so, they always feel rejected by the opposition party.
“Quite honestly, if I am coming into an office and there are 25 of you but 20 were on another party’s train while campaigns were going on, I will not be comfortable having you around; that is normal.
“So, I think that we need to work as public officials not to take up a party position though we can go and vote,’’ she said.
Also speaking, Executive Director of YIAGA, Mr Samson Itodo, said that the event was to enhance stakeholders’ engagement which was critical for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to him, an impartial electoral commission is the determining factor in the credibility of elections.
Itodo said that African elections were taking a new turn, adding that “what we have consistently seen is that incumbents are beginning to interfere with electoral commissions.
“We recall there was internet shutdown in Sierra Leone and it was simply just an attempt to undermine the electoral commission from using technology to transmit results.
“We have also seen where political parties do not play the game by the rule, especially in the conduct of their affairs or even in complying with basic rules as simple as not declaring results before the electoral commission actually declares it.
“There are key lessons that the weakest link in our electoral process is our results tallying and collation process and it is important for us as Nigerians to work on that as we match towards 2019,’’ he said.
Itodo urged INEC and other stakeholders to discuss and agree on modality of how results should be transmitted in a way that would be in tandem with the principles of openness, transparency and accountability.
He commended INEC’s plan to transmit results electronically in 2019, noting that increasingly, technology was playing a critical role in elections.
The director said that use of technology in elections was good, and that he extent it would be deployed in Nigeria would guarantee the trust and confidence of citizens.
He said that Nigerians were waiting for INEC to unveil its plan and strategy for deploying technology for the collation of results.
He, however, warned that if the application of technology did not in any way subscribe to the principle of openness and accountability, elections’ results would be contested.
Also speaking, Mr Raouf Salami, Program Officer at ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions, said that one of the challenges of the Sierra Leone elections was low civic education which translated to invalid votes.
Salami said that this was avoidable with proper awareness and urged Nigeria to work on that ahead of 2019.
-
INEC will cancel election in any troublesome ward – REC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will cancel elections in wards with irregularities.
Prof. Francis Ezeonu, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo, said elections in areas where ballot boxes were seized or where voting was marred by any violence would be voided.
The electoral commissioner said this on Friday while carrying out sensitisation campaign in Aboh Mbaise Local Government area of Imo.
He said INEC was prepared for free and fair elections devoid of violence and intimidation and urged stakeholders to cooperate with the commission to achieve this objective.
“INEC will not accept results in areas where ballot papers or boxes are carted away by hoodlums or any group or individuals. Election in that area will be cancelled.
“What INEC needs is cooperation from members of the community.
“If INEC does not receive cooperation of people in the communities, things will not be okay. I advise politicians and stakeholders to play by the rules and play good politics,” he said.
Ezeonu reiterated the commitment of INEC to conduct credible polls in the forth coming general elections.
He urged politicians to always ensure their followers enjoyed dividends of democracy to pave way for their re-election.
The electoral commissioner advised the people of Aboh Mbaise to ensure that all eligible voters in the area got their PVCs and went out and vote during election.
He said election in Nigeria would no longer be business as usual, adding that INEC was tightening its ropes against all aspects of rigging.
Ezeonu promised that the state INEC would ensure that all eligible voters registered through provision of more registration machines and re-visiting places where people were yet to be captured.
Earlier, Mr Clement Archibong , the Electoral Officer in Aboh Mbaise, said the commission had registered a total of 6,311 prospective voters since registration was taken to the electoral wards as ordered by the commission .
He, however, said that the local government had 2,820 uncollected permanent voters cards and called on stakeholders to carry the message to their various communities for the owners to come and take them.
Mrs Esther Emeruche, the Technical Committee Chairman of Aboh Mbaise, called on INEC to be an unbiased electoral umpire and should not be party to rigging by announcing results in violent areas.
Some stakeholders, which consisted of traditional rulers, representatives of political parties, youth, women and town union leaders, commended INEC in the state on the sensitisation and the assurance of credible elections.
They advised INEC against bringing in faulty registration and card reader machines for registration and for elections, saying that faulty machines were means of election rigging.
They also wanted INEC to revisit areas where people were yet to be captured to have more registered voters.
They called for continuous publicity and enlightenment on the voter registration exercise and collection of PVCs.
Eze Emmanuel Mad, a traditional ruler in Aboh Mbaise, expressed gratitude to INEC in the state and urged it to fulfill all its promises as well as ensure it conducted credible elections come 2019.
Mr Mike Iheanetu,a member representing Aboh Mbaise State Constituency, advised the people of Aboh Mbaise against political and voter apathy.
He enjoined them to go out, register and obtain their PVCs, saying it is their power to vote and elect good leaders.
-
2019: Senate clears seven REC nominees
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed seven of the nine Resident Electoral Commissioner nominees sent for approval by President Muhammadu Buhari.
President Buhari on December 20, 2017 sent names of the nine candidates to be considered as RECs.
Out of the nine, seven of the nominees were confirmed, one failed to show up for screening, while one is still under consideration.
The confirmed nominees are Baba Yusuf, Borno; Lukman Ajidagba, Kwara; Segun Agbaje, Ekiti, Cyril Omorogbe, Edo.
Others are Yahaya Bello, Nasarawa; Emmanuel Hart, Rivers; and Mohammed Ibrahim, Gombe.
The chairman senate committee on INEC, Suleiman Nazif, said the nominee from Osun State, Eric Olawale, did not show up for screening before the committee.
He said the committee stood down the confirmation of the nominee from Akwa Ibom, Monday Tom, for further legislative consultation.
He added that the seven approved nominees were duly cleared by relevant security agencies.
-
2019: INEC deploys website technology for electorates, candidates – REC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has deployed a website technology to ease its dealings with electorate, candidates, political parties and other stakeholders in the electoral process.
TheNewsGuru reports that the new INEC website is http://www.inecnigeria.org
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu State, Mr Emeka Ononamadu, stated the development in an interview with NAN in Enugu on Tuesday.
Ononamadu said that the whole essence of the deployment of the website technology was to make the electoral process less stressful and less cumbersome.
He said people could get the information they wanted it instantly online.
“The new website is interactive and user-friendly; while allowing visitors to subscribe to INEC’s newsletters.’’
The REC said the website had detailed information under the following heading – INEC Youth Ambassadors; Electoral Officials; INEC Citizens Contact Centre (ICCC); INEC LGA Offices; Political Activities and The Media.
Others are Aspirants and Candidates; Election Management Bodies; Registration Area Centres Nation Wide and Check Your Voter Registration Status.
Ononamadu said Nigerians could use the website to update their knowledge as well as check their status and that of their aspirants and candidates.
“The new website – http://www.inecnigeria.org, which has improved features that is interactive and user-friend, is made to ease the electoral process by giving usable and up-to-date information concerning aspects of the electoral process and developments to Nigerians.
“Like in the provision for Checking Your Voter Registration Status; you can check your voter status by entering your details in the form on this page through imputing your state of residence; surname; and Voters Identification Number (VIN) – last 7 digits.
“We also have provision for our newsletters as well as important online news and articles on special INEC events nationwide or in some states as the case might be,’’ he said.
The REC said that the commission would continue to do its best to evolve easier, far-reaching and better ways to enlighten and educate Nigerians on their electoral obligations.
INEC is one of the leading electoral bodies in Africa that had been introducing cutting edge technology to better the electoral process.
The commission introduced the electronic voters’ registration, which involves electronic data capturing for voters’ nationwide over 12 years ago.
About five years ago, it introduced the card readers, which is a technological devise that authenticate the voter’s Permanent Voter Card (PVC) against the electronic thumb print of the voter at the polling booth.
A visit to the website shows that the commission has a countdown clock to he February 16, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
-
Senate confirms 8 REC nominees, steps down Lagos, Kebbi, candidates
The Senate on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Mrs Asmanu Maikudi from Katsina State and seven others as Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC).
Other nominees, who were equally confirmed are, Mr Sam Olumekun from Ondo State, Prof. Riskuwa Shehu from Sokoto State, Mr Kassim Geidam from Yobe and Jibrin Zarewa from Kano State.
Prof. Samuel Egwu from Kogi, Mr Mike Igini from Delta and Abdulganiyu Raji from Oyo State were also confirmed.
The upper chamber, however, stepped down consideration of Amb. Rufus Akeju (Lagos), Dr Mahmuda Isah (Kebbi) and Ahmad Mahmud (Zamfara).
It also rejected the nomination of Prof. Mustapha Zubairu of Niger on the ground that he came from the same geo-political zone with Mohammed Haruna, the Federal Commissioner, representing North Central in INEC.
This decision of the senate followed the report of the Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presented by its Chairman, Sen. Suleiman Nazif.
The decision of the chamber to step down the confirmation of Akeju was sequel to a Point-of-Order raised by the Deputy Minority Whip, Sen. Biodun Olujimi, on a court judgment against his appointment.
Displaying a copy of the judgment, she warned that confirming the nominee would amount to a negation of the powers of the judiciary.
On the nominees from Kebbi and Zamfara, the senate said that there were issues on their cases that needed to be further investigated.
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, charged the successful nominees to contribute their quota to transform election process in the country.
He said that their appointment was timely as it would have positive impact on elections in the country.
“The newly confirmed Resident Electoral Commissioners are people of high integrity, disciplined and full of patriotism.
So, we expect that the gains recorded by INEC in the previous elections should be surpassed.
“The timetable recently released by INEC for 2019 general elections is timely and this will give the newly-appointed RECs an opportunity to correct the mistakes of the previous elections.
“On our part as a Senate, our committee is working on the amendment of the Electoral Act to further complement the electoral body,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Senate had, prior to the confirmation of the RECs, clarified that it had not changed its resolution not to consider presidential requests for confirmation on areas not specified in the Constitution.
It stated that it would maintain the position until judicial interpretation was made on those areas.
This followed a Point of Order by Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe.
Whiling citing Order 43, he said that he was taken aback when he read in the newspapers that the Senate had reversed its resolution on confirmation of certain executive nominations.
On that, Saraki said, “this institution has great respect on the resolutions that we pass here as a body.
“We will never go against our resolutions. If you can recollect, what we said is explicitly stated in the Constitution in Section 153 or even section 171.
“Ambassadorial and ministerial appointments are the only ones that we will continue to consider.
“Those are ambassadors, ministers and others bodies, specified in the Constitution.
“The National Assembly will not consider anyone outside the specified agencies, and INEC is among those bodies that are in section 153, which we will consider their nominations.
“This is just to assure you that we have not shifted ground on this resolution.
“Please discard what you read from the newspapers and be guided that as presiding officers we respect the law,’’ he said.
In another development, the National Information and Intelligence Database Bill, 2017 scaled first reading at the plenary.
The bill, which was sponsored by Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi(APC-Kaduna), is aimed at making the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit(NFIU) autonomous of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).
It is part of effort to lift the suspension of Nigeria from EGMONT, an international Financial Intelligence Group.
-
BREAKING: Senate confirms 15 RECs, says 12 others pending
The Senate has confirmed the nomination of 15 of the 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The confirmation followed the adoption of the report by the Senate Committee on INEC at the plenary on Thursday.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Suleiman Nazif, while presenting the report, said all the nominees were cleared by the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services and the Code of Conduct Bureau.
He added that the remaining nominees were still under screening by the panel.
Senator Clifford Ordia seconds that the Senate do receive the report of the Committee on @inecnigeria on the screening of 15 REC officials.
— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) June 1, 2017