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INEC expresses readiness for saturday bye-elections in 11 states

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has expressed readiness for the conduct of bye-elections across 11 States this Saturday. INEC disclosed this in a statement issued Tuesday night in Abuja after a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, from the affected states. National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr. Festus Okoye, in the statement said the Resident Electoral Commissioners briefed the Commission on the level of preparations in their States and the Commission is satisfied that preparations are going on very well. “All the States have received all the non-sensitive materials, trained their staff, and received all the funds for the bye-elections. Most of the States have also had their sensitive materials deli...

‘Electronic voting, best option for credible polls’

An Oyo State politician, Olayinka Oladimeji Segelu, has called for the adoption of electronic voting in Nigeria’s electoral process. Segelu, who aspired for House of Representatives in 2015, said the plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to commence electronic voting with Anambra State governorship election next year was a good move. He said: “Honestly, the only way we can ensure transparency and reliability in the conduct of elections in Nigeria is to embrace electronic voting as it is done in some other countries of the world. “We must understand that establishing an independent body to manage and supervise elections is not enough to guarantee free and fair elections devoid of an efficient and reliable system. “To start with, the cost of adopting the electronic bal...

INEC chief wants Senate to accelerate Electoral Act amendment

The nominee for the position of Chairperson for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has appealed to the National Assembly to expeditiously pass the Electoral Act Amendment Bill before the end of first quarter of 2021. Yakubu made the call in Abuja on Thursday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on INEC for screening. President Muhammadu Buhari had on Wednesday sought Senate’s confirmation of Yakubu as INEC chairperson for a second term. Yakubu said the passage of the Electoral Act was critical for the success of the 2023 general elections and ultimately the nation’s electoral system. He said that INEC under his leadership had recommended some areas of amendments in the Electoral Act. He said that if confirmed, INEC under his watch would consolidat...

Senator screening: Opposition parties canvass support for Mahmood Yakubu

File Photo A coalition of opposition political parties led by the National Chairman of Action Alliance, Kenneth Udeze, on Thursday stormed the National Assembly canvassing support for the reappointment of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Election Commission. Armed with banners urging the Senate to expedite action on Yakubu’s confirmation, Udeze said the performance of the Professor in his first five-year tenure, informed their action. Yakubu was already in the Senate wing of the National Assembly ahead of his screening billed to start by 2 pm while the rally was ongoing at the gate of the sprawling complex. Udeze said Yakubu had been cleared in the past, his performances in the last five years should be a good reason to confirm him. He listed some of the achieve...

INEC admits challenges in deployment of technology in 2019 elections

File Photo The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confessed that the deployment of technology in the electoral process especially during the 2019 general elections came with challenges. The Commission made the disclosure in the review of the 2019 general elections, a report of the Commission’s retreats and stakeholder engagement, presented during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday. INEC also claimed in the review that the delay in investigation and transmission of case files to the Commission for further action by the police has hindered the successful prosecution of electoral offenders. Making recommendation on ICT, SCRs, DDCMs, CVR and Internet services, the Commission noted: “The growing use of technology in the planning of elections became a feature in our elections ...

#EndSARS: We suffered extensive damages – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that it suffered extensive damages, vandali­sation of offices and facilities across the states during the destruction that trailed the EndSARS protests. The commission said the damages were also felt in ar­eas where bye-elections has been scheduled. INEC National Commis­sioner and Chairman Infor­mation and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, who made the disclosure in a statement, said the commis­sion as a result may have to consult stakeholders before agreeing on specific date for the bye-elections. Recall that the commis­sion had at its meeting with Resident Electoral Commis­sioners (RECs) suspended the bye-elections indefinitely because of the security situa­tion in the country at the time, promising to review same ...

IPAC congratulates INEC chairman over re-appointment

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has congratulated Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on his re-appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari as the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for another five years in office. IPAC National Chairman, Dr. Leonard Nzenwa, in a statement described the re-appointment as a welcome development and a blessing to the polity, restating that only few helmsmen at the Commision have been able to achieve respectable results like he has done during his first tenure. IPAC Chairman, however, praised the INEC Chairman’s remarkable digitalization programme which has transformed the way elections have been conducted in the country in the last four years. He said: “The success of the Edo and Ondo 2020 gubernatorial polls are clear examples of the positive...

Ondo election: Governor Akeredolu warns Nyesom Wike to steer clear

The Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, has warned his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, to steer clear of the October 10 governorship election in the state. Wike had on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Friday declared that Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party will win the Ondo Governorship election. The Rivers governor claimed that the All Progressives Congress was putting INEC under pressure to win the poll for Akeredolu, having lost in Edo State. However, Akeredolu, who spoke through the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Donald Ojogor, said there would not be any room for Wike to influence the process of the October 10 election. He said, “In all aspects, Governor Wike deserves respect not just as governor but as a critical stakeholder in the dem...

Why APC ‘suspended’ Ekiti governor

The State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has suspended Governor Kayode Fayemi. Fayemi was accused of holding meetings and fraternising with PDP members like Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK), Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike. According the statement, Fayemi was suspended due to “his numerous anti-party activities, especially his role in the recently concluded governorship election in Edo State which is contrary to the provisions of Article 21 (A) (ii) of the APC constitution.” The Ekiti chapter of the APC claims that five days before the Edo election, Fayemi hosted FFK in government house Ekiti. “For five days prior to the Edo election, Gov Fayemi hosted PDP big wig Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode in the government house in Ado Ekit...

Bayelsa election: Governor Diri, INEC ask appeal court to reverse tribunal’s judgment

Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State on Thursday in Abuja asked the Court of Appeal to reverse the decision of the Bayelsa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which nullified the November 16, 2019 governorship poll in the state. Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have also approached the appellate court asking it to reverse the tribunal’s judgement. In their separate appeals, the appellants prayed the court to uphold that the conduct of the governorship election and its outcome which produced Mr Diri as governor complied with relevant laws. Arguing on behalf of Mr Diri, his counsel, Chris Uche, (SAN), told the court that the case of the first respondent (Advanced Nigerian Democratic Party (ANDP)) was statute barred as ...

Edo election: US expresses concern over vote-buying, intimidation of voters

The United States Government Wednesday said it is concerned over recorded cases of vote-buying and intimidation of voters and observers during last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State. The US government in a statement by the United States Mission in Nigeria, also applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Nigerian security services on the positive role they played in the election. According to the statement posted on its verified twitter handle, @USinNigeria, said the US government also recognizes the critical role that Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, during the exercise. The statement reads: “Congratulations to the people of Edo State on a credible and pea...