Jega’s brother, Taraba emir, others die in Mecca stampede

A brother of the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, Justice Abdulkadir Jega; another Justice of the Ilorin Division of the Court of Appeal, Justice Musa Hassan Alkali; the Emir of Zing and Ameerul-hajj of Taraba State to 2015’s hajj exercise, Abbas Ibrahim and two of his wives have been identified as being among those that died in Thursday’s stampede in Saudi Arabia,SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt

Prof Attahiru Jega, INEC Chairman

Abdulkadir Jega was a judge of the Court of Appeal and also a brother to the Editor-In-Chief of Daily Trust Newspaper, Mahmud Jega.

A family source told one of our correspondents that the body of the judge, who was a member of the Kebbi State Government delegation to the 2015 Hajj, was found in a mortuary in Mina, Saudi Arabia.

This is as the death toll from the stampede has risen to 769.

The Emir’s death was confirmed to journalists by the Chairman of the state Pilgrims Board, Hamman Tukur, who added that some pilgrims from the state were still missing.

It was reliably gathered on Saturday that about 100 Nigerians might have died in the stampede that occurred when pilgrims were going to perform the symbolic stoning of the devil in Mina, Saudi Arabia.

An official of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, who confided in Sunday PUNCH, said more Nigerian victims were discovered when the commission’s officials joined their colleagues from other countries’ in Mina morgue to identify their nationalities.

The Nigerian hajj officials are still compiling the list of Nigerians affected.

Other prominent Nigerians, who have been confirmed to have died in the stampede, included the Deputy Secretary General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs Professor Tijjani Abubakar El-Miskin and a veteran female journalist, Bilkisu Yusuf.

Meanwhile, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has begun a census of the country’s pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

SUNDAY PUNCH reliably learnt that the commission started the census on Saturday following reports that some Nigerians pilgrims were still missing.

The commission had on Thursday sent its medical team to hospitals in Saudi Arabia to ascertain the number of the dead and the injured.

It was gathered that the commission embarked on the head count when it could not account for some pilgrims.

Findings showed that the NHCN was conducting the census state by state and that the figure of the dead and the injured would be released officially on or before Monday.

An official of the commission, who confided in Sunday PUNCH, said, “You will recall that on Thursday, our medical team went round hospitals. We are still collating the figures, but some pilgrims are still missing.”

The News Agency of Nigeria reported on Saturday that five pilgrims from Gombe State had been declared missing.

This is as the Sokoto State Government announced that nine pilgrims from the state were among those who died in the stampede.

In a statement in Sokoto on Saturday, the government said that its officials, led by the Amirul Hajj and leader of its delegation, the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu, who was still in Saudi Arabia, confirmed the tragedy.

The Executive Secretary, Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Usman Gurama, in an interview with journalists   in Mina, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday said the board had not located the pilgrims since Thursday.

Gurama, however, said that seven pilgrims from the state were injured at the scene of the incident and were responding to treatment.

Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Saturday expressed sorrow over the incident.

Atiku said this in a statement by his Media Office in Abuja. The former Vice President described the incident as one of the saddest accidents to have befallen Muslims in recent times.

The state quoted him as saying “we are bound by our common humanity.” It also quoted Atiku as saying that “we learn lessons from these tragic incidents, and take precautionary measures to ward off future disasters.”

Also, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Saturday in Sokoto, urged Saudi authorities to henceforth provide improved safety measures during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

The Sultan spoke on the sidelines of the presentation of the report of a technical committee set up by him to look into the state of the education sector in Sokoto State.

“The tragedy affected several countries of the world, Nigeria in general and Sokoto state in particular.

“Some local governments in Sokoto state like Illela, Binji, Gwadabawa and others were affected by the tragedy, although the actual casualty figures are still being ascertained by Saudi Arabian and Nigerian authorities,” he said.

Jega’s brother, Taraba emir, others die in Mecca stampede

INEC: Drama as Buhari overrules Jega on handover

ABUJA —  It was the end of an era, yesterday, when the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, formally handed over to Amb. Ahmed Wali as  acting chairman of the electoral body.

Prof Attahiru Jega, INEC Chairman

Following the handover, Jega said the future of the country and the commission were in safe hands.

However, after about eight hours as acting chairman, Wali was replaced as acting chairman by President Muhammadu Buhari who designated another national commissioner, Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari as acting chairman.

Jega, who was appointed five years ago by former President Goodluck Jonathan, bowed out with six national commissioners who were appointed the same day with him.

The commissioners who retired with Jega yesterday were Cojl. M.K. Hammanga (Adamawa), Dr Ishmael Igbani (Rivers), Prof. Lai Olurode (Osun), Dame Gladys Nwafor (Abia), Mrs Thelma Iremiren (Delta) and Dr Nuru Yakubu (Yobe).

The future is  bright —Jega

Speaking with newsmen shortly after he bowed out, Jega expressed appreciation for the opportunity given to him and other INEC management staff to serve the country.

He said: “We feel great; we thank God Almighty for the opportunity to serve the country. The future is bright for the commission and the country.”

Though the brief hand-over ceremony was a closed-door event, secretary to the commission, Augusta Ogakwu, told Vanguard that it was just for the former chairman to hand over to another person since the Federal Government has not appointed a substantive chairman for the commission.

She explained that Wali was selected because his tenure will expire on August 11 with the hope that by then  the government may have taken a decision on who to give the responsibility of running the commission for the next five years.

The secretary also revealed that in his farewell message, Jega urged the commission to ensure that whatever thing that has been gained in election management must not be allowed to go down because the people of Nigeria and indeed the world must have taken interest in the country’s election management system.

She said: “It was just a brief ceremony for the chairman to hand over to one of the commissioners, Amb. Wali, whose tenure will expire on August 11 and the Chairman has handed over to him pending the appointment of a substantive chairman by the government or pending when his tenure expires but we believe that we will soon hear from the government what will happen next.”

Following the handover to Wali, the Head of Service of the federation, Mr Danladi Kifasi in a statement announced President Buhari’s decision to appoint Mrs. Zakari as acting national chairman of the commission. He said the appointment is with effect from June 30, 2015 until the appointment of a substantive chairman.

Mrs Zakari is senior to Wali and she is due for retirement July 31.

 

INEC: Drama as Buhari overrules Jega on handover

Jega bows out of INEC, hands over to Wali

Prof. Attahiru Jega on Tuesday bowed out of office as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

He handed over to Mohammed Wali, a national commissioner of the INEC from Sokoto State, whose five-year tenure will also expire on August 11, 2015.

Prof Attahiru Jega, INEC Chairman

Jega was appointed chairman of the commission by former President Goodluck Jonathan on June 30, 2010.

He conducted two elections – 2011 and 2015.

Speaking briefly at the end of the closed-door handing over ceremony at the Commission in Abuja,  Jega said the future of the country and commission was bright.

He said he was grateful to God and the country for the opportunity to serve.

He said, “We feel great; we thank God Almighty for the opportunity to serve the country. The future is bright for the commission and the country.”

Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu, confirmed to journalists that Jega handed-over to Wali.

Wali is expected to act pending the appointment of a new chairman by President Muhammadu Buhari.

She also added,  “We believe we will soon hear what will happen next from the president.”

Ogakwu said, Jega, while handing over, encouraged the commission to keep the flag flying.

“Jega said in whatever we have achieved, we should keep it up and do more, adding that there is still a lot to be done,” she said.

Jega left the commission with six national commissioners whose tenures also expired on Tuesday.

Jega bows out of INEC, hands over to Wali

Jega, 6 INEC commissioners bow out Tuesday

ABUJA — Following the expiration of his five-year tenure, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, is set to vacate office Tuesday.

A statement issued by the Public Affairs Department of INEC said that Jega, who hails from Kebbi State, is to bow out of office with six National Commissioners who were appointed the same day with him by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010.

Prof Attahiru Jega, INEC Chairman

They are: Col. M.K. Hammanga (rtd), Adamawa State (North East); Dr Ishmael Jikiri Igbani, Rivers State (South South); Prof. Lai Olurode Osun State (South West); Dame Gladys Nne Nwafor, Abia State (South East); Mrs Thelma Amata Iremiren, Delta State (South South); and Engr. Dr. Nuru Yakubu, Yobe State (North East).

Similarly, four other National Commissioners will equally leave the commission in July and August this year. They include: Dr. Abdulkadir Oniyangi, Kwara State    (North Central) and Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari, Jigawa State (North West). Their tenure will expire on July 21 while Dr. Chris Iyimoga, Nasarawa State (North Central) and Dr. Mohammed Wali, Sokoto State (North West) will complete their tenure on August 11.

In a related development, the tenures of 16 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) have expired and they have already left the commission last week. They are: Ahmad Makama, Bauchi State; Haliru Tambuwal, Sokoto State; Abdullahi  Danyaya, Niger  State; Abubakar Wara, Kebbi State; Mr. Mike Igini, Delta State; Prof. Selina Oko, Ebonyi State; Hussaini Mahuta, Katsina State.

Others are Dr. A. L. Ogunmola, Oyo State; Alhaji Ibrahim Zarewa, Kano State; Prof. Tukur Sa’ad, Adamawa State; Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo, Kogi State; Kassim Gana Gaidam, Yobe State; Mr. Timothy Ibitoye, Osun State; Amb. Rufus Akeju, Lagos State;Prof. C.E. Onukaogu, Abia State; and Ibrahim Bagobiri Marafa, Zamfara State.

The statement further reassured that despite the depletion of the commission as a result of the progressive expiration of the tenures of National Commissioners, its operations will continue normally because it can always form a quorum.

 

Jega, 6 INEC commissioners bow out Tuesday

We’ve many court cases over party candidates - Jega

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday said it had incurred many court cases after the 2015 general elections because of lack of internal democracy in political parties and last-minute substitution of candidates.

Prof Attahiru Jega, INEC Chairman

According to the commission, these ugly developments portend threats to credible electoral processes.

The party structure in many West African countries, INEC said, were stronger than what is obtainable in Nigeria.

The commission however challenged political parties to avoid such flaws before the next general elections, scheduled for 2019.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, represented by a commissioner, Prof. Mohammed Kuna, expressed this observation in Abuja, at a stakeholders’ conference on 2015 elections, organised by Kuru, Jos-based National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies. It was with the theme, “Political parties and the 2015 elections: Lessons learnt and way forward.”

It will be recalled that INEC usually battles running court cases before and after general elections as a result of last-minute substitution of candidates.

Jega advised participants at the conference to proffer solutions on how to entrench internal democracy in political parties.

He said, “In the commission, we are worried about internal democracy in political parties. We have seen cases of substitution of candidates after the primaries. It is a serious problem for INEC. We had several cases in 2011 and the same thing happened in 2015.

“I think it is important that we look into it. If you look at political parties across West Africa, the party structure in many countries is better than what we have in Nigeria. We will share our experiences with other participants here in order to deepen democracy.”

Reacting to INEC’s position on the lack of internal democracy in political parties, the Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council, Dr. Tanko Yinusa, called for a total overhauling of the existing Electoral Act.

According to him, stakeholders must sit and agree on certain areas of the Electoral Act where improvements and changes are required.

The IPAC chairman said, “We have allowed political parties to be hijacked by individuals. When these individuals take over the structure of the party, they always decide who becomes what. We need to find a mechanism through which political parties will be public-owned institutions. With all due respect, we have improved over time and I believe we can get better.

“The only places where you can find true internal democracy are in the smaller political parties. These small parties are not owned by big men. The issue of substitution of candidates comes with Electoral Act. The Act gives a lot of rooms for a number of things.

“A case in study is Benue State, where people just jump into political parties and grab the tickets. INEC does not have the powers to effectively manage these things. We are calling for a total overhauling of the Electoral ýAct. Now, we can all sit down and look at areas of improvements.”

The lack of internal democracy and the need to ensure thorough reform of the electoral process, including consideration for independent candidacy and review of the age qualification for presidential aspirants, dominated discourse during a recent media roundtable organised by Transition Monitoring Group.

According to the TMG, such reviews and reforms would be necessary as part of measures to consolidate the gains of the 2015 election and pave the way for the general elections that would take place in 2019, even though political godfathers would strongly oppose it.

Speaking at the event, which centred on the Project Quick Count with the theme, “Setting a media agenda for electoral reforms”, the Chairman of Partners for Electoral Reforms, Dr. Ezenwa Nwagwu; Project Manager of TMG, Lazarus Apir, and TMG’s Training Manager, Paul James, were unanimous that the nation’s electoral laws require total reform.

In an interview with The PUNCH shortly after a keynote address entitled, “The strategic role of the media and CSOs in promoting electoral reforms”, Ezenwa said there should be mid-term elections for federal and state legislatures, apart from making provisions for independent candidacy to deepen the nation’s democratic gains.

He said, “In Scandinavian countries, they are reducing the age of voting. In Nigeria, the kind of posers and questions kids put foreward discomfit even you the adult and throws you off balance. With that progress we are making in terms of knowledge, we still disenfranchise a percentage of the population and see that they don’t participate in the democratic process.

“Nigeria is run by age, and the age barrier is a geroncratic fiat to close the democratic space against the young ones and youths. The more people participate, the more we retire godfathers. We must ensure that many people participate because retiring godfathers is a continuous process. It will start by de-emphasizing money politics.”

Ezenwa cited Ghana as a country which practices multi-party democracy “and yet uses independent candidates for elections.”

According to him, independent candidacy would be a good option that should be considered by Nigerians before the 2019 elections.

He said, “This thing is about continually expanding the democratic space. Democracy is nothing without participation. So, there are people who don’t want to join political parties for their reasons but you can’t take them out from participating. You can cite examples in every other place.

“In America, you don’t need to go too far. With about 400 political parties, 13 or 14 come on the ballot. Yet, there are still independent candidates. So, this argument about joining political parties to contest election does not define democracy in global terms which entails participation.”

We’ve many court cases over party candidates - Jega

Guard your utterances - APC warns Jega

…Just like he advised Orubebe

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Rivers State Chapter has noted with disappointment the continued unguarded utterances by the outgoing Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission [INEC], Prof. Attahiru Jega suggesting that the massive electoral fraud perpetrated during the last general elections in Rivers State was not as huge as being reported.

Prof Attahiru Jega, INEC Chairman

The party in a statement signed by its publicity secretary Mr Chris Finebone said, ‘It is sad that despite the fact that the entire gamut of that exercise is now the subject of serious dispute at the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, Prof. Jega will, at the slightest excuse, attempt to publicly downplay the anomie his staff led by Dame Gesila Khan connived with the PDP to perpetrate in Rivers State last March 28 and April 11, 2015.

For the APC, Prof. Jega needs not be reminded that the kind of unguarded utterances he has been making about those elections are subjudicial to the matters before the Tribunal.

“We sincerely sympathise with Prof. Jega for struggling to shore up his reputation and paint himself as a superhuman before the eyes of the world. However, we believe that the Professor should be satisfied with the modest achievements the INEC has made under his watch and not try to forcefully lay claim to having performed extremely well”.

“But more worrying to the APC is that Prof Jega appears not to accept the advice he issued to former Minister of Niger Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe during the announcement of the Presidential election results last March. When Orubebe went berserk and threw all caution to the wind before the world following his disappointment with the election results, Prof. Jega managed to bring the situation under control when he advised the rampaging former Minister to guard his utterances and behave like the elder statesman he was”.

“It is a bit troubling to the APC that Prof Attahiru Jega has himself refused to act according to that advice for reasons best known to him. We urge him to so do to avoid the embarrassment of being dragged before the tribunal for contempt”.

“We suspect that Prof Jega does not appreciate the magnitude of what his subordinates dished out in some states of the Federation during the election; the best option for him now is to speak about only those things he personally carried out or directly supervised”.

In the meantime, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Rivers State Chapter has re-assured its numerous supporters that the tortuous journey to recover its alleged stolen mandate during the last general elections is proceeding apace.

Attached herewith is the Order of Tribunal directing the Independent Electoral Commission [INEC] to allow the APC and its Counsels including forensic experts to inspect, photocopy and obtain certified true copies of all eletoral materials related to or in connection with the conduct of the rivers state governorship election held on 11th and

12th days of april, 2015 including but not limited to used and unused ballot papers; the voters register used in the conduct of the said election; forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E, EC17, EC17A, EC25A, EC25A[1], EC25B, EC25B[1] EC25D, EC40A, EC40B, EC40C, EC40G, EC40H, EC40J AND EC50D and filled incident forms, PVCs and Card Readers used

in the said elections in all polling units in Rivers State.

Counsels to the APC have duly obtained assurances from INEC for the exercise to commence today (Wednesday).

The APC informed its numerous leaders, supporters, admirers and the public that persons strutting our political space in Rivers State today with alleged stolen mandate of the people shall soon become history by God’s grace.

“Indeed, the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see them again no more forever. It is only a matter of time” the statement concluded.

Guard your utterances - APC warns Jega

My regret as INEC chairman – Jega

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Monday reviewed his tenure as the boss of the electoral body and concluded that his only regret was his inability to create a separate salary structure for INEC workers.

Jega spoke in Abuja during a retreat organised for the electoral officers of the commission where the report of the 2015 elections was reviewed.

The retreat was titled, “2015 general elections: Lessons and the way forward.”

Jega also said that members of staff of the commission were subjected to difficult circumstances during the 2015 elections.

He said apart from the special salary issue, the commission under his leadership performed well.

But he regretted that despite the undertaking he said he made when he assumed office on the need to create a special salary structure for the members of staff of the commission, he was unable to accomplish that up till now.

He said, “We have done our best as a commission under very difficult circumstances and the major regret as I have always acknowledged is that a major undertaking we made when we first resumed at the commission is to have a separate salary structure for the members of staff of the commission but we have not been able to achieve this

“And obviously this is one area where we still have to do a lot of work and put in a lot of efforts as we move towards the future and to improve.

“But apart from that, I don’t think we have done badly in terms of promoting the welfare and the wellbeing of the members of staff.

“We have ensured that salaries were paid regularly, we have ensured that there are a lot of opportunities for self improvement through the organisation of seminar and workshop with our partners.”

He said he was aware that there was no way the commission could satisfy everyone, saying that some were not happy when the commission redeployed some of its members of staff.

He said, “Again as I said, we could not have satisfied the expectations of everybody, we believe that we have done our best. I must say that not all of you are happy with some of the measures that we have introduced as a commission.

“The restructuring and reorganisation certainly could not have satisfied everybody because it required trimming down the size of the commission and also redefining schedule of responsibilities and putting square pegs in square holes as we called it at that time.”

Jega, who had insisted that he would leave INEC after the expiration of his tenure, said that the 2015 general elections were better than those of 2011.

But he added that there was a lot of room for improvement and that as the country prepares for future elections, the commission must begin to reflect on what areas of further reforms it should focus its attention on.

Jega also urged members of staff of the commission not to be carried away by the accolades showered on them because of the successful conduct of the 2015 general elections but they should work towards improved performance in 2019.

“I think not many of us in this room would need a reminder, but it is important that we remind ourselves that the success of the 2015 general elections was as a result of the tremendous effort and undertaking of many of us to learn from our mistakes, to take measures to learn from those mistakes and to continue to do our best for our country,” he added.

The Country Director, International Foundation for Electoral Systems in Nigeria, Prof. Gloria Richard-Jackson, had earlier congratulated the commission on the successful conduct of the 2015 elections.

She noted that although the 2015 elections had been adjudged as the best in the country, “there is still room for improvement.”

“IFES is happy to support your commission’s effort to review the conduct of the 2015 elections so as to build on the good practices and lessons learnt as we prepare for the 2019 general elections,” she added.

My regret as INEC chairman – Jega

Rivers Polls: We Lack Power To Cancel Results – Jega

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, has said that the commission lacks the power to cancel results of elections after returns have been made.

Jega spoke yesterday at the Civil Rights Situation Room in Abuja. He added that the commission sent three national commissioners to investigate allegations of irregularities in Rivers State after it received petition to that effect.

According to him, the reports submitted by the team did not show any irregularities in the election.

He said “We have no power to cancel elections results once returns have been made.

“On the petition against election irregularities in Rivers State, the commission sent three national commissioners to the state to investigate the allegations and found no irregularities in the election in the report. Some people don’t want elections to hold, they are the ones calling for cancellation.

“We investigated the allegation of fake result sheets in Rivers and our reports showed that there was nothing like that.”

Answering question on whether he will accept the offer if he is re-appointed as INEC boss, Jega replied that he will not accept it as he would want to do something else with his life.

The INEC boss further stated that the commission is in partnership with the police and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to prosecute electoral offenders.

He noted that one offender had been prosecuted in Adamawa State and sentenced to six months imprisonment for illegal possession of permanent voter cards (PVCs).

He, however, called on whoever has evidence as it relates to electoral offences to bring such to the commission, saying that such errant individuals would be investigated and tried in court.

On the forthcoming governorship rerun poll in Abia State, Jega said that the rerun will hold only in the wards where election was cancelled and not in the entire three local governments.

Jega further stated that about 20,000 permanent voters card (PVCs) were not produced before the election on the grounds that the producer was arrested by the police over allegation that he gave the password to a political party.

“Evidently, some people did not want us to use the card reader machine. That was why we allowed manual election in some few places where the card reader did not function well during the Presidential election.

“Some people had already saying that we deliberately deployed card reader machine that will not in some zones and to prove them wrong, we instructed that manual voting should take place in such places. But some people want to take the advantage of that.

“But during governorship elections, we ensured that all the card reader machines worked. We have earlier sent warning to all the RECs that they will be held responsible for any card reader that did not work properly”, he stated.

Earlier, the convener of the Situation Room and Executive Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre PLAC, Clement Nwankwo had on behalf of the Civil Societies congratulated Jega and INEC over the success of the elections.

He however noted that Situation Room had raised concern over Rivers, Abia and Akwa – Ibom elections.

He also noted that there were complaints about some of the State Resident Electoral Commissioners ‎as it relates to their relationship with politicians in their various states.

Rivers Polls: We Lack Power To Cancel Results – Jega

Presidential run-off would have led to crisis – Jega

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said on Tuesday that a presidential run-off would have led to a crisis in the country.

Jega, in his first public comment on the March 28 and April elections, predicated his assertion on what he called many lacunas in the amended Electoral Act.

He suggested during a   dialogue session with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in Abuja, an amendment to the electoral law since it provides for only seven days after the first election to hold a run-off.

He   said the   incoming administration of Muhammadu Buhari should not wait till 2019 general elections before reviewing the Electoral Act.

Jega disclosed that he was happy when the March 28 presidential poll produced a clear winner.

He said there was no way that INEC could have successfully conducted a run-off election within seven days as provided for in both the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act.

The INEC boss said, “I heaved a heavy sigh of relief when the election did not result to a run-off. That would have occasioned a big constitutional crisis.

“This is in view of the fact that the 1999 Constitution only made provision for seven days for such poll. You and I know that there was no way we would have been able to conduct a run-off within seven days.

“This is why I emphasise that amendments to the electoral laws should be done in good time. We could have further sanitised the electoral process if we had got some of the amendments we required in the Electoral Act.”

The INEC boss revealed that there would be electoral reforms to strike a balance between decentralising and centralising the powers of the commission at the national headquarters.

He explained, “In future reforms to electoral legal framework this issue has to be looked at carefully. It’s a delicate balance: you have to balance whether you will give the chairman of INEC or the INEC at the headquarters a lot of powers which may be abused or whether you will want to localise the powers which may also be abused. So, it’s a tricky balance and the balance has to be struck.

“Clearly, from our experience in 2007, a lot of the powers were removed from the INEC national officers and localised to the Returning Officers. And now, we are seeing the challenges and some abuses in some respects. So, in future, as we review the Electoral Act, we may have to look at how to have some balance in this regard.

“Sometimes, when we hear something and a mistake is likely to be made, we can intervene and advise the Returning Officer about the right thing to do. Sometimes some of the Returning Officers, if they are confused and do not understand what they are supposed to do, they can call us directly and seek for clarification.   There are a few cases a Returning Officer may just go ahead and do his own thing either based on lack of understanding or because of some partisan considerations.

“There are many Returning Officers for example in some states where they disappeared with the result sheets. And we have got information about these people and we are going to follow it up in terms of not only reporting them to their institutions but also prosecuting them appropriately for the offences they committed.”

Jega, CSOs disagree on Rivers, Abia and Akwa Ibom gov polls

Jega and the over 60 civil society organisations that make up the NCSSR     however disagreed on the credibility of the Rivers State governorship election.

While the   NCSSR members   said that the elections in Rivers, Abia and Akwa Ibom states were “lacking in credibility and fraught with irregularities”, Jega said “there is no evidence before the commission as it relates to election irregularities in Rivers State.”

It will be recalled that the Situation Room had last week said that the elections in Rivers, Abia and Akwa Ibom states   should not be allowed to stand.

The convener of the group, Clement Nwankwo, said,   “Situation Room has expressed its concern about the overall conduct of the elections in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states where there are good grounds to question the credibility of the elections’ results in both states.

“There are also concerns about Abia State, which recorded multiple cases of electoral misconduct.”

Jega however disagreed, saying that the reports of the three INEC National Commissioners he sent to Rivers State to investigate alleged irregularities did not confirm the petition.

The INEC   chairman said, “We have no power to cancel election results once returns have been made. On the petition against election irregularities in Rivers State, the commission sent three national commissioners to the state to investigate it.

“Some people didn’t want elections to hold, they are the ones calling for cancellation. We investigated the allegation of fake result sheets in Rivers State, our reports showed that there was nothing like that.”

But he admitted that INEC erred by cancelling elections in three local government areas of Abia State.

Jega, however, explained that the commission intervened before a return was made, adding that supplementary elections will only hold in wards where results were cancelled.

He said, “The announcement of cancellation of three local governments was a mistake. And we intervened before a return was made and it was corrected.

“And only the wards where irregularities occurred in those three local governments were to be cancelled. And the supplementary election we are going to do will not cover the entire local government but only those wards that had been cancelled.”

There had been uproar in some quarters following INEC’s decision declaring the April 11 governorship poll in Abia, Imo and Taraba states inconclusive.

The commission had therefore fixed April 25 as date for supplementary elections in the three states.

Explaining that INEC had no power to cancel the election in Rivers State, he   called on aggrieved political parties to approach the tribunal to seek legal redress.

“The law says once the Returning Officer has made a declaration then you just have to go to the tribunal to contest the declaration,” Jega said.

He stated further that there were no evidences to warrant the change of the Resident Electoral Commissioners in Imo and Taraba states.

Jega said that INEC would beam its search- light on both states and would also deploy more electoral officials in them.

He said, “I have no evidence before me to warrant changing the RECs in Imo and Taraba states.

“But we are going to do what we did in Ekiti and Osun states. We will send a lot of supervisors, national commissioners, directors to ensure that a lot of eyes are put on what goes on in these states.

“There were a lot of allegations that RECs were compromised. I was accused of being compromised. Frankly, we can’t just start moving RECs and changing them because there are allegations if there is no substantive evidence presented.

“Anybody who didn’t like the way things stand out would want the returning officers or RECs removed. But we can’t just start indiscriminately removing people unless we have something to hold against them.”

Jega also said that the prosecution of individuals   found culpable of electoral malpractices in the just-concluded 2015 general elections had commenced.

According to him, those who are being prosecuted include a former Director -General of the National Youth Service Corps and some youth corps members.

While saying that INEC would pay attention to high profile electoral offenders, he called on the public to furnish the commission with evidences of electoral breaches.

He said, “Prior to the conduct of the elections, the Inspector General of Police was very proactive. He   established a committee headed by a DIG to work together with INEC for speedy prosecution of electoral offenders. And we believe that this will help us have more prosecutions of electoral offenders than in previous elections.

“Similarly, the Nigerian Bar Association has requested INEC for a meeting so that we can further explore the possibility of working together to hasten the process of prosecuting electoral offenders.

“ There are already clear cut cases where the police have apprehended people red-handed and we are working together with them to ensure that they are prosecuted.

“This is one area where we didn’t do much in 2011. Not that we didn’t try but we were overwhelmed by the number of offenders and we couldn’t handle it. But now with partnership with other organisations, we should be able to do so.”

He said that although INEC   received report of underage voting, there   was no substantial evidence to prove the allegation.

The INEC boss, however, explained that the commission would correct the anomalies by ensuring that Permanent Voter Cards of underage voters were not produced.

He also stated that besides prosecution, electoral officers who are not members of staff of INEC and ran away with result sheets would be reported to their parent institutions.

Jega cited an example of an individual in Adamawa State who has already bagged six-months jail term for possession of multiple PVCs.

On the plea by a participant, urging him to reconsider his decision not to seek fresh tenure , he said: “Man proposes and God disposes. But as I speak with you, I will rather do something else with my life”.

 

Presidential run-off would have led to crisis – Jega

Revealed: Plot to abduct Jega during presidential poll

Fresh facts have emerged on the March 31 attempt by a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, to scuttle the announcement of the March 28 presidential election results.

The main part of Orubebe’s action, according to Reuters on Thursday, was a plot to use hired thugs     to kidnap the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, and consequently stall the electoral process.

The news agency quoted unnamed pro-democracy advocates and a Nigeria-based diplomat as saying that one of Jega’s aides unearthed the plot.

It said that the aide had sent a text message to an independent voting monitor, “warning of an imminent threat to the electoral process.”

Reuters said it pieced the information together from the text message, events on the ground during the announcement of the results and interviews with pro-democracy advocates and diplomats in   Abuja.

It added that when the independent voting monitor sent the SMS, he hoped the outside world would hear of the plot and the text of the message .

“Fellow countrymen, Nigeria on Trial,” read the SMS sent on the morning of March 31 to the head of the Situation Room, an Abuja-based coalition of human rights groups and pro-democracy advocates monitoring the elections.

“Plans are on storm [sic] the podium at the ICC Collation Centre and disrupt the process. Nobody is sue [sic] what will happen. Please share this as widely as possible,” the text read further.

At that moment,   Jega was about to preside over the announcement of the results.

As tallies from around the country showed that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, was leading, “unidentified PDP(Peoples Democratic Party) hard-liners started to panic, seeking ways of manipulating the count,” the boss of the Situation Room and the diplomat said, citing political contacts in the Niger Delta and Abuja.

Realising they could not engineer an outright win,   the PDP agents set about doctoring the tally at collation centres in pro- (Goodluck) Jonathan areas to ensure Buhari failed to meet a requirement for 25 per cent support in two-thirds of the states, the head of the Situation Room said, citing reports from election monitors on the ground.

Reuters said its reporter witnessed and photographed one tally list in Port Harcourt, Rivers State with suspiciously similar totals for registered voters at polling stations: 500, 500, 500, 500, 500, 500, 500, 500, 450.

In another tally centre in the city, 17,594 valid votes were recorded out of a registered voter population of 11,757, the Reuters reporter said.

Foreign election observers also noted the peculiarities – and contacted diplomats in Abuja who called in international intervention.

The United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, and his British counterpart, Philip Hammond, who were in Switzerland for talks on Iran – issued a tough statement saying vote counting “may be subject to deliberate political interference.”

But   as Buhari’s lead grew, some PDP supporters from the Niger Delta, including Orubebe, decided on a final gamble: to create a disturbance in the main INEC hall and have “thugs snatch Jega from the stage, Reutersquoted the Head of the Situation Room and the Abuja-based diplomat.

What the group planned to do after the abduction was unclear, they   said.

“It was a desperate thing, mostly by a group of people from the Niger Delta who were in the room,” the Situation Room head said, describing events that unfolded publicly in the minutes after he received the SMS.

When Jega opened proceedings on the morning of March 31, Orubebe had grabbed a microphone and launched into an 11-minute tirade accusing Jega of bias.

“Mr. chairman, we have lost confidence in you,” he shouted, pushing away officials trying to make him surrender the microphone. “You are being very, very selective. You are partial,” he continued, surrounded by three or four supporters. “You are tribalistic. We cannot take it.”

At this point, according to the Head of the Situation Room and the diplomat, Jega’s security details were approached by unidentified individuals telling them to stand down but they declined.

“Some of the guards who had been guarding Jega for years demanded a written order,” the Head of the Situation Room said.

Jega later rebuked Orubebe, saying, “Let us not disrupt a process that has ended peacefully,” he said as Orubebe slumped in his chair.

“Mr. Orubebe, you are a former minister of the Federal Republic. You are a statesman in your own right. You should be careful about what you say or about what allegations you make,” he said.

Orubebe later congratulated Buhari on Twitter, expressing his “apologies to fellow Nigerians.”

Orubebe did not respond to requests by the news agency for comment on the details of the plot.

INEC, said the news agency,   also declined to comment and turned down requests for an interview with Jega,

Reuters however said it found no evidence to suggest that Jonathan, who accepted defeat in the election, was involved in the plot.

The Chief Press Secretary to the chairman of the commission,   Kayode Idowu, told our correspondent that he was not aware of the alleged plot to kidnap Jega.

Idowu said, “I think somebody is imagining here. The chairman was not aware of any such plan, he didn’t conduct any investigation to know that. He was not under such threat during or after the announcement.’

Revealed: Plot to abduct Jega during presidential poll

Jega sacks two EOs in Edo, says elections will hold in Orhiomwon & four LGA

BENIN CITY-NATIONAL Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.Atahiru Jega has sacked two Electoral Officers attached to Oredo and Orhiomwon Local Government Areas of Edo state in the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections over alleged involvement in the disappearance of result sheets provided for elections in those areas.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo State, Mr Mike Igini who disclosed this during a meeting with leaders of both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state also said that some officers of the commission are being interrogated over alleged malpractices in the last elections, adding that those involved may face prosecution.

Igini disclosed further that after a meeting with the INEC Chairman in Abuja, the Commission decided that elections will be conducted in those areas where they had to postpone the elections due to late arrival of voting materials and disappearance of result sheets.

He said rescheduled elections will hold in the entire Orhiomwon Local Government Council, six wards in Uhumwonde, some wards and units in Ikpoba Okhai, Ovia North East, Ovia South West and Oredo Local Government Areas. While explaining that the winner of the Edo South senatorial election will emerge through a simple majority, the REC stressed that the winner of the senatorial election can only emerge after elections are held in these areas.

Just as he added that “Orhiomwon election is also very important because apart from the senate, we also have a House of Representatives seat at stake in that area. So the result will also be determined after the Orhionmwon and Uhumwonde elections” adding that card readers will be used for the Saturday elections across the state.

However, the areas he mentioned did not go down well with the PDP leaders including the state chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, former Deputy Governor, Lucky Imasuen and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu who insisted that election held in some parts of Orhiomnwon therefore the results should stand.

The tension in the hall heightened when the PDP leaders engaged in war of words with their APC counterparts when they made allegation and counter allegations about alleged ploy to rig the elections using some Electoral officers. The PDP leaders later excused the REC to enable them attend a meeting somewhere else.

 

Jega sacks two EOs in Edo, says elections will hold in Orhiomwon & four LGA

Professor Jega"s Silence On Akwa Ibom State Is A Crime Against Democracy By Inibehe Effiong

My first physical encounter with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega was on Saturday December 6, 2013 at Ugbegun in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State during the burial of former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Festus Iyayi, who was murdered by the reckless convoy of the Governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada.

I had relocated to Edo State for about a week to join other activists, comrades and public spirited compatriots from within and outside the country to give our slain brother in the struggle “a befitting burial”. On the day of the funeral, we were singing solidarity songs at the tomb of Iyayi when I sighted a tall, good looking man wearing a white Hausa gown popularly called “babariga”. Without being told, I recognised the person to be Prof. Attahiru Jega, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Throughout his stay during the interment, Prof. Jega neither uttered a word nor exuded emotions except the occasions he exchanged pleasantries with other sympathisers who came to greet him. As I observed Mr. Jega closely, I could see a well cultured, quiet and decorous personage that does not easily give in to the vicissitudes of life. My admiration for him soared afterwards.

It was therefore not eccentric to me when he exuded equanimity on Tuesday, 31st March, 2015 when Mr. Godson Orubebe sought to undermine his hard earned reputation with his thoughtless, shameful and baseless allegations of bias and compromise during the collation of the presidential election results at the International Conference Center, Abuja.

With the successful conduct of the presidential election on 28 March, 2015 which has been applauded by Nigerians and the international community, the reputation of Prof. Jega has further improved. However, I’m very worried that the respect presently being accorded the INEC Chairman may be short-lived owing to his worrisome disposition towards the evident, widely reported and verifiable compromise of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Akwa Ibom State led by the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Austin Okojie.

It is sickening that despite the public outrage that has continued to trail the fraudulent conduct of the presidential and National Assembly elections in Akwa Ibom State, the INEC Chairman has not deem it pertinent to respond, even laconically, to the concerns and grievances expressed by residents of the State, political parties, the media, election observers and other Nigerians. One is tempted to ask whether the INEC Chairman has a special interest in Akwa Ibom State?

It is on record that petitions has been sent to the INEC Chairman by interested persons, particularly by one of the leading political parties in the State, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in respect of the March 28 elections in Akwa Ibom State. Yet, there is no indication at the moment that the leadership of INEC has given a fair hearing to the petitioners.

While it is true that politicians do make baseless allegations against the staffs of the Commission for political gains, it is not true that there are no bad eggs in the Commission. According to the results of the presidential election in the State as presented during the declaration of results by the State Collation Officer, Prof. James Ekpoke, Akwa Ibom State has a of 1, 644, 481 registered voters. Of this number, 1, 074, 070 voters were said to had been accredited while 1, 017, 064 reportedly voted. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was said to had scored 953, 304 votes while the All Progressives Congress (APC) allegedly scored 58, 411 votes.

For God sake, where on planet earth did INEC get such alarming figures from? Certainly not from the same Akwa Ibom State that no elections properly so-called took place. It is note worthy that the results of the elections were not announced at the State level until about 10 am of Tuesday, 31st March, 2015 (3 days after the conclusion of the election in the State). Also, Prof. Jega had to stand down the announcement of the results by the State Collation Officer owing to discrepancy in the summation of the results until the figures were reconciled.

During the March 28 elections, eligible voters were denied their franchise due to the wilful and premeditated refusal by the INEC to release sensitive election materials, especially result sheets, to its ad hoc staffs. In most polling units, voters waited endlessly for the arrival of ballot papers and result sheets to no avail. In some places, elections actually took place but there were no result sheets to record same. In other places, known appointees of the State government went about with police and military escorts harassing voters and hijacking materials with reckless abandon.

For example, a serving Commissioner in the State went about with police and military escorts hijacking materials in his local government. In the process, he reportedly shot one Richard Frederick Okon, an APC supporter from Mbierebe Akpawat Community in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area to dead. This report has neither been denied or investigated by the security agencies. It was later discovered that the materials were taken to a Village Hall in Nung Udoe, Ibesikpo LGA. Thousands of ballot papers casted for the opposition APC were isolated, condemned and abandoned. The APC agents then took custody of the abandoned ballot papers. Evidence showing this was published by online news medium – Sahara Reporters.

The rigging was so badly and carelessly done that result sheets were not even supplied at the polling unit of the APC gubernatorial candidate in the State, Mr. Umana Okon Umana in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area. It took protest by the candidate for the result sheets to be brought allegedly from the home of a former legislator from the area. The story was the same in most parts of the State.

Another online medium, Premium Times, has published a shocking video of INEC staffs colluding with agents of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to thump print ballot papers in the full glare of the public during the last elections in the State. We have also seen plethora of other evidence of manipulation and fraud during the last polls in the State.

Surprisingly, the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission led by its Chairman, Prof. Jega has not deem it proper to react or investigate these documented, cogent and verifiable facts and evidence of massive fraud,  rigging and subversion of the electoral process. At the moment, the State is literally in flames owing to the fear that the embattled State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Austin Okojie whose actions and inactions smacks of partisanship will still be the one to oversee the forthcoming gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections in the State.

The opposition has accused Mr. Okojie among others, of lodging in Davok Hotel, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo owned by the wife of the State governor, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio. Dr. Ime Umanah, a prominent statesman from the State has gone further to give the specific room numbers (268/269) in the hotel where the REC was said to have stayed. Dr. Umanah went further to reveal that upon discovery that the location has been leaked, the REC was moved out of Davok Hotel to Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort by the State governor.

Late in the night on Sunday 5th April, 2015 information went viral on social media that the gubernatorial candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel was having a meeting with INEC Returning Officers in the entire State at ‘R & R Restaurant’, along Babangida Avenue, Uyo owned by a former Head of Civil Service in the State under governor Akpabio, Mrs. Grace Anwana (deceased). The Returning Officers were allegedly offered N150, 000 each for “delivering” during the presidential and National Assembly polls with a promise that each of them will receive additional N500, 000 if they “deliver” during the gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections.

The nocturnal meeting was leaked by one of the Returning Officers (a lecturer) who attended the meeting. An Akwa Ibom State Correspondent of one of the national newspapers has confirmed to this writer that he drove passed the Babangida Avenue where the meeting allegedly took place and that he saw hundreds of vehicles and people at two places, including the R & R Restaurant at the reported time that the meeting allegedly took place.

These are serious allegations that shouldn’t be treated with kid gloves by the Chairman of INEC. At the moment, the reality is that the State Resident Electoral Commissioner cannot be trusted to conduct credible polls on April 11 in the State. He has become too controversial and embattled to be accepted as an umpire.

This is the same REC that refused to accredit local journalists in the State claiming that they were working for the opposition. It took three days of vigil at the State INEC Headquarters by the insistent local journalists before the REC bowed to pressure and accredited them.

So why is Prof. Jega still silent and unconcerned about the deprecable, volatile and precarious situation in Akwa Ibom State? Is it that Akwa Ibom State is not significant to warrant a decisive action by the INEC Chairman? Is the INEC Chairman trying to instigate violence in the State before doing the needful? Or are the evidence, facts and reports of compromise against the State REC not germane enough to justify a reaction by the INEC Chairman? Definitely, there is more to it than meets the eye.

I humbly advice Prof. Jega to make sweeping changes in the Commission before the April 11 gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly elections in the country. It is only right and expedient for the INEC Chairman to redeploy REC’S and other senior staffs of the Commission from States that the March 28 polls were marred by irregularities and controversies. Anything short of this may spell doom for our nascent democracy and may greatly bastardize the reputation of the Commission.

The media, human rights community, local and international observers should take note and follow closely the troubling situation in Akwa Ibom State. Prof. Jega should rise above any primordial consideration and defend the integrity of INEC and the electoral process in Akwa Ibom State.

The time to act is now!

Inibehe Effiong is the Convener of the Coalition of Human Rights Defenders (COHRD).

Email: inibehe.effiong@gmail.com

Professor Jega"s Silence On Akwa Ibom State Is A Crime Against Democracy By Inibehe Effiong

Election: Obama commends Jonathan, Buhari, Jega

United States President Barrack Obama has commended President Goodluck Jonathan and President elect Muhammed Buhari for their public commitments to non-violence throughout their political campaigns and election.

In a statement on Wednesday, Obama congratulated General Buhari on his election and President Jonathan for conceding defeat.

Full text of the statement follows:

The last few days have shown the world the strength of Nigeria’s commitment to democratic principles.  By turning out in large numbers and sometimes waiting all day to cast their votes, Nigerians came together to decide the future of their country peacefully.

I commend President Goodluck Jonathan and President-Elect Muhammadu Buhari for their public commitments to non-violence throughout the campaign.  President Jonathan has placed his country’s interests first by conceding the election and congratulating President-Elect Buhari on his victory.  I look forward to working with President Jonathan throughout the remainder of his term, and I thank him for his many years of service and his statesmanlike conduct at this critical juncture.  I urge President-Elect Buhari and President Jonathan to repeat their calls to their supporters to continue to respect the election outcomes, focus on unifying the country, and together lead Nigeria through a peaceful transition.

Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its Chairman, Attahiru Jega, deserve special recognition for what independent international observers have deemed a largely peaceful and orderly vote.  I commend INEC for its extensive efforts to increase the credibility and transparency of the electoral process.  Looking ahead to the gubernatorial elections on April 11, it is imperative that national attention turn to ensuring isolated logistical challenges are overcome and peace is protected, even in the most hotly contested races.

On behalf of the American people, I extend congratulations to the people of Nigeria and to President-Elect Buhari and look forward to continuing to work with the newly-elected government on our many shared priorities.

Election: Obama commends Jonathan, Buhari, Jega

Jega: Those afraid of card reader are electoral offenders

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega Wednesday assured that his commission has made all the necessary preparation for transparent elections this Saturday and on April 11.

He said although his commission has evolved various electronic measures aimed at limiting fraud in the nation’s elections, it will delay the application till 2019, but will only apply the card reader this time. He said those opposed to the deployment of card reader in this year’s elections were those who feel their fraudulent conduct will be detected.

“To my mind, and to many in INEC, this is one of the many reasons many people are opposing the use of the card reader. Because a clear way that they had used in the past to somehow get away with fraudulent conduct in elections, will now be made difficult, because if they do, it is very likely now to be established.

“The use of the card reader will help us address some of the concerns about the alteration of, particularly accreditation figures in order to fraudulently advantage to a candidate and disadvantage the other candidate.

‘Information about accreditation, which will be saved on the card reader and which will be transmitted to our data base, will be useful in term of addressing irregularities, when the emerge in relation to alteration of accreditation figures,” Jega said.

The INEC Chairman spoke in Abuja Wednesday while inaugurating the Civil Society Organizations’ (CSOs) Situation Room, where CSO representatives, under the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, will receive and analyze reports of the elections.

He assured that the commission has done “everything possible to ensure that the 2015 general elections are successful, and in particular, we have done everything possible to ensure that we have prepared operationally and logistically for the conduct of the elections, we have worked very closely with security agencies and we have received assurances, through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, and most specifically from the Inspector General of Police (IGP), because the police has a lead role in terms of providing security for the elections.

“These reassurances make us comfortable that all that need to be done has been done to ensure the successful conduct of the elections.

Jega gave a picture of some of the improvements the commission has made since the last election in the movement of material and men to minimize hitches experienced in previous elections and its preparation for this one.

“Beginning from today, we are commencing the rolling out, leading to Saturday, the Election Day. Before now, all the non-sensitive materials had been taken to all the local government offices. Form today, the sensitive materials will be received from the vault of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and taken to our state offices, accompanied by agents of political parties.

“Then, later this evening, till tomorrow morning, these will be distributed various local governments, and will also be accompanied by parties agents. At the state level, we expect that as from tomorrow evening, up until Friday afternoon, all the materials taken to the local governments will also be distributed to the ward levels.

“At each ward level, we have established what we call Registration Area Centre (RAC). We have equipped it reasonably to ensure that both our staff and security agencies spend the few hours of the night there, in readiness to deploy very early in the morning to the various polling units in each of those wards.”

On collation and presentation of results, Jega said the commission will use the same method it applied in previous elections. He said the although the commission had tested the process of electronic transmission of results, having used it in some elections in the past, it will not use it in the 2015 general elections because of the reaction of some people to the introduction of card reader in this elections.

“We will not put that electronic transmission of results to use in the 2015 general elections. We consider the reactions from innovation of using the card reader and we felt that we should just, cope with that rather than create additional challenges about electronic transmission of results. And particularly, the memory of that in the Kenya election is still fresh in the memory of many.

“So, we felt that lets keep piloting it and improving upon it beyond 2015. Hopefully, by 2019 general elections, the commission will get there where it can do full electronic transmission of results. Even though we are not going to do electronic transmission of results, we have tried to address a concern, which was expressed after the 2011 general elections, with regards to the transparency of the collation of the results.

The coordinator of the Situation Room and Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Clement Nwankwo urged INEC to do all within its powers to ensure that it improves on all the lapses experienced in past elections.

He commended INEC for its efforts so far, noting that there was a substantial improvement on its preparation as against the experience in past elections. he urged the military to realize that its role is to give back-up security to the police, whose main duty is to provide security during elections.

He warned the soldiers against intimidating electorates or acting in manners that betrays it sympathy for a particular party or candidates, noting that soldiers are not to be seen close to the polling booths.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba also assured that the police was ready to provide adequate security during the elections.”

IGP, who was represented at the event by the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said the police is ready for the elections.

“Our men are adequately motivated.

“We are ready to go. Where we do not have sufficient men on the ground, we are working with other security agencies. We are even preparing for the 2019 elections for those who feel the country will not exist after this year’s elections,” he said.

He said unlike previous experience, men to be deployed for electoral duties will be paid their allowances before departure.

He also assured that the police will pay attention to the security of the Youth Corps members and ad-hoc staff to be deployed for the election.

Jega: Those afraid of card reader are electoral offenders

Days to general election, 500,000 PVC yet to be printed

ABUJA—With about 10 days to the scheduled presidential election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, said it was yet to print only 500, 000 copies of the Permanent Voters’ Card, PVC.

PVC voters card

Chairman of the Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega who made the disclosure at a dialogue session he had with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in Abuja yesterday, said the contract for printing of the remaining PVCs was awarded to an indigenous firm that is based in the Federal Capital Territory.

Prof. Jega explained that the inability of the Abuja firm to print and deliver the voter cards on time was due to the fact that it ran out of “blank cards” for the production.

The INEC boss described the development as regrettable, even as he assured Nigerians that all the PVCs that will be used for the impending elections will be ready for distribution before Sunday.

Besides, Jega who noted that as at February 14 when the presidential election was initially billed to hold, only 67 per cent of the PVCs were ready for use, said that as at yesterday, INEC had achieved 81 per cent success with regards to the production and distribution of the cards.

He stressed that the cards in the last phase of the production will be distributed at the polling unit level.

He said: “I want to further assure Nigerians that anybody who has registered and has the PVC will be allowed to vote. We have done our best to look at every aspect and angle. We have tried to see what improvements that can be brought about so that the 2015 election will be free, fair and credible. Though our deadline would have expired by Sunday, we have concluded plans for targeted distribution of the remaining PVCs. All the new cards that are taken in this last phase are to be distributed at the polling unit level”, he added.

Jega said that INEC was able to surmount challenges it met in the distribution of the PVCs, especially in Jos and Owerri North, adding, “As I am talking to you today (yesterday), all outstanding cards for Edo state would have been distributed”.

On the feasibility of all eligible voters getting their PVCs before the March 22 deadline for collection, Jega said the commission has considered the idea of further extending the deadline, “but we are still holding back in the meantime because if we go ahead and make that announcement now people will relax. That is why we decided to still peg the deadline at Sunday. However, when push comes to shove then we can make announcement of the new date”, Jega said.

He noted that there has been remarkable improvement on the issue of security within the North Eastern part of the country, saying that information within his disposal showed that only three Local Government Areas in Borno state are still within the grip of insurgents.

Meanwhile, the INEC Chairman warned that the commission would not allow Governors, Ministers, Senators and other highly placed public officers to parade the streets with armed security men on the election days in the guise that they are monitoring the electoral process.

“This is an area that we really want the security agencies to do a better job than they did in 2011 and all the subsequent elections we have had in this country. No public officer should be accompanied to the polling unit by armed security men.

“The Governors while going to the polling units to vote may be accompanied by two unarmed security men on plain clothes. Some of the breaches we had in previous elections were from high profile people. We want the security agencies to be more diligent in ensuring that the guidelines are complied with this time around”.

While reacting to questions pertaining to the workability of the card reader machines, the Director of ICT at INEC, Mr. Chidi Nwafor, said the machines were programmed to work with all the terrestrial networks in Nigeria, “like MTN, Glo, Airtel and Etisalat, using dedicated lines”.

He said: “It is a known fact that Nigeria is not covered 100 per cent by the network providers, however, the unavailability of network will not stop the card readers from carrying out the authentication and verification of voters on the election days”.

Nwafor said that though the accreditation is supposed to stop by 1:30pm on the election day, he said that the card readers can still continue the accreditation of voters till 6pm.

“The machines are not programmed in such a way that it stops accreditation at 1:30pm. People tend to get us wrong on this issue, we are not saying that once it is 1:30pm then nobody should be accredited again, no! The process will continue until the last man on the line is accredited to vote”, he stated.

Jega gave instances that could lead to the postponement of election in any given polling unit.

He said: “If a card reader fails to function at all at a polling unit, we agreed with all the political parties that it should be replaced. However, if it fails and is not replaced before 1pm on the election-day, we agreed that the election in such polling unit should be postponed till the next day. We have learnt from Ghana where such incidences occurred”.

He said that INEC is currently in possession of 182, 000 card readers, adding that 400 of the machines were dead on arrival as they could not boot after several attempts.

“We are comfortable with the credibility of the card readers and in all the tests we have conducted none of the card readers failed”, he said.

Jega revealed that INEC will use the International Conference Center, ICC, in Abuja as its collation center.

“If there is any result that we feel lacks integrity, we will not hesitate to cancel that result. Likewise, wherever a ballot box is snatched, we will cancel election in that place. We will work together with the police towards making sure that we prevent snatching of the card readers. If people target the card readers and start snatching them, it will constitute a sufficient reason for us to cancel the election”, Jega added.

 

Days to general election, 500,000 PVC yet to be printed

Don"t rig us out of power with card reader - PDP tell Jega

By Festus Ahon

ASABA—LEADERSHIP of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the South-South region, yesterday, warned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC not to use the card reader to rig the party out of power in the March 28 presidential election.

Handing down the warning during the South-South zonal executive meeting of the party, in Asaba, Delta State Chairman of PDP in the zone, Dr Cairo Ojuogbo, said the zone was against the decision of INEC to make its Chairman, Prof. Attaihiru Jega, the sole appointee of collation officers across states in the federation for the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections.

Ojuogbo, however, said the PDP in the region was not against the card reader, but that it should not be used to disenfranchise eligible voters, stressing that anybody with the Permanent Voters Card, PVC, should also be allowed to vote. On whether the card reader would be used for the election or not, he said the issue was being handled by the party at the national level. On the appointment of collation officers, he alleged that Prof. Jega had already directed one of his aides who is a card carrying member of the APC to nominate those to be appointed as collation officers for the elections.

According to him, INEC has a chairman and 12 commissioners with two being appointed from each of the zones in the country, adding that the commissioners from the zones should be allowed to appoint collation officers in their areas and not only the chairman solely making the appointments. Speaking further, Ojougbo said the South-South region would give bloc votes to President Goodluck Jonathan, insisting that the party has worked very hard to earn the votes of the people.

He commended party faithful for their commitment to the reelection of Dr Jonathan and expressed optimism that their efforts would yield positive results.Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr Steve Oru, who also spoke during the meeting, assured that the people of the South South would vote enmasse for the PDP. Chairman of the party in the Delta Central, Chief Tom Amioku who spoke in the same vein enjoined the party leadership not to be disturbed by the rumours that the Urhobo would not vote for the PDP.

The PDP governorship flagbearer in Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, said he was confident of victory for PDP in all the elections, adding that the party was not scared of loosing any of the elections because it was working hard to secure the people’s votes.

 

Don"t rig us out of power with card reader - PDP tell Jega

Breaking: Jonathan, Jega, security chiefs in crucial meeting

President Goodluck Jonathan; Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, and heads of all security agencies are currently locked in a crucial meeting inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

President Goodluck Jonathan

Jega is expected to brief the meeting of the Security Council on the latest in the commission’s preparation for the forthcoming general elections.

Security chiefs are also expected to brief the meeting on the success so far recorded in their anti-terrorism war and preparations for the elections also.

The meeting which started a few minutes after 11am has in attendance Vice President Namadi Sambo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim; Chief of Staff to the President, Gen. Jones Arogbofa (retd.); National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki; Attorney-General of the Federation, Muhammed Adoke (SAN); Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan; Minister of Interior, Mr. Aba Moro; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali.

Others in attendance are Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu; Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba; as well as the heads of the Department of State Security and the National Intelligence Agency.

A definite pronouncement on the forthcoming elections is expected at the end of the meeting.

Jega emerged from the Security Council meeting at about 2.20pm after briefing the members on his commission’s preparation for the elections.

He was accompanied by two top officials who attended the meeting with him.

When State House correspondents asked him about the meeting, the INEC boss simply said, “I believe it went well.”

He did not answer subsequent questions relating to the use of card reader during the elections and the level of the commission’s preparedness as he made his way out of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The security meeting is still ongoing.

Breaking: Jonathan, Jega, security chiefs in crucial meeting

Jega: I won’t quit now

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega will not be going on terminal leave before the expiration of his tenure in June.

The idea will be tantamount to a dis-service to the country, especially now with the elections so close, Jega said yesterday.

The Presidential and National Assembly elections have been fixed for March 28. The governorship and states Assembly elections will come up on April 11.

Jega, who spoke in Abuja at a town hall meeting, said he had spurned calls and demonstrations against his continuous stay in office, stressing that he would remain focused on the job at hand.

He said: “I have a job to do and I remain focused to do it. It will be a dis-service for me to resign now. No serious minded person in my position will proceed on leave when there is a very serious job to be done.”

Besides, Jega said he was not under any pressure from any quarter to embark on terminal leave.

He said a High Court verdict asking the Commission to include the  Young Democratic Party (YDP) on the list of political parties would not affect the elections, adding that the commission has directed its lawyers to challenge the   judgment.

Jega also reassured Nigerians ý that the elections will hold as scheduled as the security situation has drastically improved in the last few weeks.

He also assured Nigerians on the use of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), despite calls that the commission should use Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) for the elections.

Jega promised that the outstanding 700,000 PVCs would be available latest by  Saturday – one week to the Presidential election.

Jega said the commission would not be happy to see any registered voter denied the right to vote as a result of the commission’s failure to produce the PVCs.

He described the calls for the dropping of the card readers as diversionary, stressing that the use of PVCs and card readers would add value to the process.

INEC boss said the commission was prepared for the elections, before the postponement – contrary to the belief in some quarters.

Jega argued that if the commission was allowed to go ahead with the February date, it would have done a better job compared to the 2011 elections.

The extension has afforded the commission the opportunity to improve on its plans.

Jega: I won’t quit now

OPC, Jonathan campaigners lead Lagos anti-Jega protest

The Oodua Peoples Congress and the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation in Lagos on Monday morning led other protesters to storm the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, demanding the sacking of the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, before the March 28 elections.

The bus of the campaign group and the members of the OPC, who massed at the 7UP/Toll Gate end of the expressway, led the protesters, who were chanting anti-Jega songs, giving reasons why Jega should be sacked.

The OPC members carried guns, cutlasses, pocket knifes among other weapons, occupying one end of the busy highway while some members of the groups harassed some motorists and passers-by plying the road.

Some people, who were clad in black vest, said to be beneficiaries of the SURE-P, also constituted a sizable portion of the protesters.

Heavy traffic built up along the highway as the protesters, who were well protected by heavy police presence, took over one part of the road, grounding movement of other road users.

The protesters took time to distribute leaflets containing seven reasons why the INEC boss should be sacked.

The leaflet also contained what the OPC described as the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan and why the President should be re-elected.

The protesters are said to be on their way to the National Stadium, Surulere, through the Ikorodu Road, where they will hold a rally.

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra on Friday protested in Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, among other locations in the South-East, calling for the immediate removal of Jega.

On Sunday, the All Progressives Congress alleged that it had uncovered a plot by its Peoples Democratic Party counterpart to fund ethnic militias to protest and demand Jega’s sacking.

It added that such ethnic militias included the OPC.

OPC, Jonathan campaigners lead Lagos anti-Jega protest

PDP lays fresh plans to stall presidential election

There are indications that the national leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party might have perfected a fresh strategy aimed at stalling the March 28 presidential election.

Adamu muazu

Investigations by our correspondent in Abuja on Thursday and Friday showed that the ruling party was actually the brain behind those who registered Young Democratic Party and that it may use this new party to achieve its objective.

The new party had on Thursday asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the forthcoming general elections.

The party said this a day after the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the commission to register YDP as a political party.

At a press briefing in Abuja, the party called on INEC to re-schedule the general elections if it could not accommodate it on its ballot paper.

It said that contrary to insinuations, the court did not order INEC to only register the party, but added that the commission was ordered to issue certificate and include YDP in the 2015 elections.

National Publicity Secretary of YDP, Mr. Ugo Nwofor, said there were only two options available to INEC, saying the commission could either reprint its ballot papers and include the party with a view to accommodate the party’s candidates or shift the elections.

Nwafor said, “If INEC does not have the appropriation for logistics for reprinting of its ballot papers then INEC ought to within the constitutional provision further re-schedule the general election so as to accommodate our party.

“In either of the two options, our party is ready, it has been a long journey for YDP; we wish INEC would explore the first option.”

Shortly after the press briefing, one of the brains behind the YDP was seen at the national headquarters of the PDP in Abuja on Thursday evening, where he said he had come to confer with some of its officers.

In a confidential discussion with our correspondent, he said he had come to brief the party on the success of their legal work which made the court to order that the new party be registered.

When our correspondent called him on the telephone on Friday whether they were planning a fresh legal option to compel INEC to comply with the court order, he answered in the affirmative.

According to him, “Recall that I was at the national headquarters of the ruling party in Abuja on Thursday where I met our partners. We are working together to move the nation forward and deepen our renascent democracy.

“We have already fixed the dates for our convention and we would pick our presidential and other candidates for the elections. We expect INEC to give us a chance as stated in the court order.”

However, it was learnt that one of the strategies of the ruling party in connection with the YDP is to head for the court and ask that the presidential election be set aside, by pleading that the party was excluded.

“This is what we would do if President Jonathan loses the elections,” a source at the national headquarters of the party added.

But if the president wins, it was gathered that the party would not show any interest in pursuing any case in the court.

Nwofor, however, said that the party was interested in contesting the election, adding that this was in compliance with Sections 85 and 87 of the electoral Act.

“Because of this, the party has fixed its governorship/House of Assembly and Presidential and National Assembly primaries for March 26 and 27 respectively,” he added.

It was gathered that the party cleverly picked the dates in order to make sure that the election slated for March 28 does not hold or to make it have a legal proof for exclusion.

The party was believed to have known that submission of candidates list for elections expired 60 days to the election.

An INEC official said that the “commission and Nigerians are aware of the provision of the law on this.”

Nwafor, however, said that his party had commenced the sales of nomination forms due to the court judgement. He said, “We have approved sales of nomination forms as follows; Presidential (N15m), governorship (N3m), Senate (N1m), House of Representatives (N500,000) and House of Assembly (200,000).”

He described the Wednesday’s judgement as victory for democracy, rule of law and triumph over impunity.

It was however gathered that the national leadership of the new party was waiting for the commission to reach out to it tomorrow on the judgement.

One of their elders, who spoke with our correspondent, said that “we expect the commission to reach out to us and ask us to send the names of our presidential and other candidates.

“In the alternative, the commission can also reach out to us, discuss with us and we may say that we are not fielding candidates for the Presidential and National Assembly elections, which come up first.

“The result of the discussion will determine what we would do for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections, which holds April 11.”

Efforts made to speak with the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh on the issue failed. He neither picked nor responded to a text message sent to him.

PDP lays fresh plans to stall presidential election