Tag: Resident Electoral Commissioner

APC Demands Immediate Removal Of Resident Electoral Commissioner

APC Protests Results In Rivers East Senatorial District, OthersThe All Progressives Congress (APC), has demanded the immediate redeployment of Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, for colluding with Governor Nyesom Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the December 10 rerun legislative elections in Rivers state in favour of PDP.

The demand was contained in a statement issued on Monday in Port Harcourt and signed by Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya.

The statement reads: “With the revelation of the unholy partnership between Wike and Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to deny a large chunk of the Rivers State electorate a voice during the rerun election, we hereby demand for the immediate redeployment of this enemy of democracy.

“Mr Ikoiwak had the audacity to announce PDP’s George Sekibo as a Senator without adding votes from three LGAs of Etche, Emohua and Ikwerre LGAs which would have made APC’s Andrew Uchendu the winner.”

Based on this, the APC, Rivers State Chapter, “wish to ask Sekibo, Osinakachukwu Ideozu and their likes in PDP not to celebrate their fake victories as we will not allow killers of our people to lead us but will use every constitutional means at our disposal to retrieve the mandate given to our candidates by the voters”.

Rivers APC berated Wike who, according to the party, was caught on audio tape shouting: “Tell the Electoral Officers in Etche and Khana to return my money or I’ll kill them – I’ll make sure that they will not leave Rivers State. I understand that both of them are from Plateau State… I’ll kill them if they don’t return my money.

“With this latest revelation we have been vindicated that Wike is the most bloodthirsty Governor in Nigeria who if not checked, will surely derail our democracy. Who knows how many Rivers State people that Wike and his PDP hoodlums would have killed for the sake of electoral victory if not for the Police and other security agencies?

“Having watched the outbursts of Chief Wike before, during and after the December 10 rerun election, we have come to the conclusion that Wike is nothing but a comical tyrant and blackmailer who needs to be restrained before he derails our hard-won emerging democracy.

“Governor Wike has not ceased to accuse the Army, DSS, Police, INEC and APC leadership of collaborating to cause havoc during the rerun election while in actual fact, he is the brain perpetuating all the killings, ballot snatching of INEC sensitive materials and fake announcements of induced INEC results, the party stated.

Police Probe Panel

Furthermore, the party questioned that: “How come a police officer, DSP Mohammed Alkali was brutally beheaded with his aide, at the usual spot where PDP hoodlums kill other security agents at Omoku? How come PDP candidates are declared as winners in most of the results so far declared by INEC?

It added that: “Under the watch of Wike, Rivers State has degenerated into a miasma, where lives have become solitary, nasty, brutish, short and the sanctity of the human lives is not paid the attention it ought to get under the purposeless PDP-led government.

“Not minding the tyranny of Wike, the Ogonis have proved that they are truly soldiers of democracy by ensuring that their son Magnus Abe was duly elected Senator, thereby shaming Wike and his army of undemocratic elements and appreciating the Ogoni clean-up initiative of President Muhammdu Buhari,” the statement said.

Concerning the 70 incidents reported, the party then insisted that Wike must submit himself to the Police Probe Panel to join the police in bringing an end to the killings in Rivers State since he assumed office.

Wike on the other hand, says the government and people of the state would not be party to the police ‘phoney’ probe panel.

My Victory Is For The Entire People Of Ondo- Akeredolu

My Victory Is For The Entire People Of Ondo- AkeredoluThe Governor-elect of Ondo State, Olurotimi Akeredolu says his victory at the polls is not for him or for his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), but for the entire people of the State, no matter their political divide.

Akeredolu stated this in his acceptance speech after receiving the Certificate of Return in the election from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Akure, the State Capital.

The Conference Room of the INEC office in Akure, was full to capacity with party supporters and other well wishers of the governor-elect and his deputy.

In his address, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC in Ondo state, Olusegun Agbaje, reassured all stakeholders in the nation’s electoral process,‎ that the present leadership of INEC will never do anything that would alter the gains it has so far achieved in terms of credibility.

He appealed to the political class to change its “do or die” attitude, to good conduct in politics.

He equally told political parties to adhere strictly to all the principles of internal party democracy in the overall interest of the nation’s nascent democracy.

INEC, on Sunday, announced Rotimi Akeredolu as the winner of the Ondo Governorship election.

In an election that was considered rather peaceful, considering the events that preceded the date, he polled 244, 842 votes to beat his closest rival, Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 150, 380 votes.

Mr Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) follows with 126, 889

Ondo Election: One Killed In Owo Violence

ondo election, owo violence As preparation for the Ondo governorship election reaches climax, there are reports of an outbreak of violence in Owo, Ondo state, which has led to the death of one person.

An eyewitness account told Channels Television on Friday, that the fight erupted between supporters of two major political parties running for Saturday’s governorship election.

Several houses were said to have been burnt during heavy fighting also on Thursday night.

According to the All Progressives Congress, (APC), “the attack was meant to provoke violent reaction” from its members, “to cause break down of law and order, to give INEC an excuse to postpone tomorrow’s election”.

The People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), on the other hand, has accused the APC of championing the shooting and the killing, just to create the impression that the PDP is fueling violence.

Meanwhile the State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has again called on INEC to postpone the elections, saying that the candidate of the PDP, Eyitayo Jegede was only upheld as the party’s candidate barely 48 hours ago.

He also argued that the PDP’s agents selected for Saturday’s election are loyalists of Mr Jimoh Ibrahim and that they are reportedly working with the APC against the PDP.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, for INEC, Mr Segun Agbaje, earlier on Friday, re-iterated that the commission would go ahead with the Ondo governorship election, slated for Saturday, November 26, 2016.

Ondo Governorship Election: INEC Set To Go

segun-agbajeThe Resident Electoral Commissioner, for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Segun Agbaje, has insisted that the commission is set to go ahead with the Ondo governorship election, slated for November 26, 2016.

While speaking to Channels Television, he stressed that “we have passed that stage. No postponement. We are going ahead on Saturday.”

Refusing to give away much information, he however revealed that “the returning officer has been appointed by the chairman of the commission and his name would be kept secret until tomorrow”.

This comes after the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), Mr Eyitayo Jegede, stormed the INEC office on Thursday, to press home his demand for a postponement of the election.

The appeal court had on Wednesday, recognized Mr Jegede as the PDP candidate and struck out all interlocutory appeals on the substitution of Mr Jimoh Ibrahim.

It is only a few more hours before the people of Ondo state decide who the next governor would be and in anticipation of that, the Governor declared Friday 25, a public holiday across the state.

Mr Agbaje has assured that materials would be sent to all the local government areas on Friday and especially to Ilaje and Ese-odo areas, which usually experience slow release of results because of poor road network.

He also confirmed that adequate security was all set for the election.

“The IG was here on Tuesday at the chairman’s stakeholder’s forum, he did promise us and what we have been seeing in the past three days shows that the security agents are very much alert and ready for this election,” the REC stated.

Eyitayo Jegede, PDP Demand Ondo Election Postponement

Ondo PDP, Eyitayo Jegede, PDP Demand Ondo Election Postponement
Mr Eyitayo Jegede

Ondo state governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Eyitayo Jegede, is moving for a postponement of the election even though the electoral umpire appears ready.

With preparations in top gear ahead of the poll, the security operatives have also stated their readiness to secure lives and property on election day.

But Mr Jegede said that he had been left with no chance of campaigning as the campaigns end at midnight on Thursday and it was time for INEC to prove that it is indeed interested in giving all candidates equal opportunity.

Alongside the leadership of the party in Ondo state, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, on Friday stormed the INEC office to press home his demand but INEC said that it would go ahead as planned.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Segun Agbaje, insisted: “We have passed that stage. No postponement. We are going ahead on Saturday.”

The PDP man expressed disappointment: “We are asking you to give us the same opportunity and now you say it is expensive. We say give us a level playing ground, you say it is expensive.”

Speaking later on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Mr Jegede argued that by the Electoral Act, INEC ought to display the names of candidates for 30 days.

Therefore, with his name “unlawfully removed” on October 27 and later reinstated to be displayed for only two days, it would be unfair to proceed with the election which saw other candidates’ names duly displayed for 30 days.

Channels Television visited the INEC headquarters in Alagbaka area of Akure, the state capital, which has been bubbling with activities regarding the election.

Sensitive materials meant for each of the local government areas were seen stacked and ready for distribution.

The INEC REC told Channels TV that the materials would be moved to the 18 local government areas on Friday.

There was also a heavy presence of security operatives including the Mobile Police, military, Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps supporting the Police.

INEC Fixes Dec 10 For Rivers Rerun Election

INEC Fixes Dates For Hanging Elections Including Rivers StateThe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the conduct of three hanging elections in Lagos and Rivers states as well as the FCT.

This decision, according to a statement by the commission, comes after months of intensive planning and wide consultations.

The elections approved by the commission are as follows:

  1. Lagos, House of Representative election – Saturday Dec 3, 2016.
  2. Federal Capital Territory (FCT) – Councillorship election – Saturday Dec 3, 2016.
  3. Rivers – National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) and State House of Assembly elections – Saturday December 10, 2016.

The statement was signed by Secretary to the Commission, Mrs Augusta Ogakwu.

The Nigerian Senate had on Wednesday threatened to suspend its sittings if the INEC does not conduct the re-run senatorial election in Rivers State by December 10.

The resolution followed a motion put forward by the Deputy Senate President, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, in which he stated that the situation had led to the absence of representatives from Rivers State both in the Senate and House of Representatives after the elections were declared inconclusive.

After the deliberations, the Senate resolved to call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct elections to vacant senatorial seats in Rivers State not later than December 10 or Senate Plenary will be suspended.

Election was cancelled in eight local government areas by the electoral body in the state, as a result of the chaos witnessed in some wards in 2015.

INEC Conducts Supplementary Elections In Imo North, Oru East

INEC, Elections, Imo North, Oru East The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday conducted the supplementary elections for the Imo North senatorial district and Oru East State Constituency that were declared inconclusive last Saturday.

Channels Television crew who monitored the election reports that the elections were conducted in a peaceful atmosphere, as there was no report of violence recorded in the areas where the elections were conducted.

However, the election witnessed very low turnout of voters as some electorates who spoke to Channels Television attributed the low turnout to voters’ apathy.

Even though there was restriction of movement in the affected areas, residents of the areas were still going about their normal business, especially grocery stores and restaurant.

Meanwhile, security operatives led by the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Taiwo Lakanu, were on ground to ensure there was no breakdown of law and order in these areas.

As at time of filing this report, final collation was still ongoing as voters were still awaiting the final declaration of the winner by the returning officer.

Imo Rerun: PDP, APC Trade Words Over Election Result

PDP, APC, Imo, Election, Imo NorthThe Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have continued to trade words following the outcome of Saturday’s rerun election in Imo State.

At a press conference on Monday in Owerri, the state capital, the PDP and its candidate in the Imo North senatorial election insisted that they won the election.

The PDP Caretaker Chairman in the state, Martin Ejiogu, accused the Imo APC of massive rigging and manipulation of the original results from the polling booths.

He called on the Presidency and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to intervene in the matter.

The PDP asked them to address the lapses in the poll and declare the PDP candidate winner of the election.

In his response to the allegations, the Deputy Chairman of the APC in Imo State, Ugochukwu Nzekwe, said that the reaction from the PDP was uncalled for and unwarranted.

He maintained that the APC remains the only popular party in the state that has delivered the dividends of democracy to the people.

Saturday’s poll is the fourth time elections in Imo North senatorial district will end inconclusively.

The Returning Officer in the election, Austin Agbaogu, said that the poll was declared inconclusive not because of violence but due to the number of cancelled votes which was 13,919 and was higher than the margin between the first and second contestant.

He said that the PDP candidate, Mr Athan Achonu, garnered 40, 142 votes while the APC candidate, Mr Benjamin Uwajumogu, scored 48,921 votes.

The electoral umpire in a statement fixed Thursday, July 28 to conduct the make-up elections in about 15 polling units where votes were cancelled.

Acting IGP Commends Police In Kogi And Imo Rerun Elections

Police, ElectionsThe Acting Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has expressed his satisfaction with the impressive performance of Police officers in the re-run elections in Kogi and Imo States on July 23, 2016 and commended the officers for their unalloyed service to the nation.

According to a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Don Awunah, the IGP commended the Police operatives for their personal and collective demonstration of patriotism, professionalism and commitment in ensuring that the re-run elections were conducted in an atmosphere of peace devoid of any breach of public security.

“The ability of the Police officers to dominate their areas of jurisdiction and supervision before, during and after the elections is a clear testimony of the police new resolve to adhere to international best practices in the conduct of elections,” the IGP said

The IGP added that the Nigeria Police force has developed workable strategy and a template that will guarantee future free, fair and credible election devoid of violence which was the characteristics of past elections in the country.

IGP Ibrahim K. Idris further said that the re-run elections in Kogi and Imo States were an index of subsequent elections in the country and particularly the upcoming elections in Rivers, Edo and Ondo States.

These upcoming elections, the IGP asserted, must be conducted within the framework of International acceptable standards of election security.  He therefore, urged the officers to breast up to the new challenges.

The IGP appealed to all those engaged in conduct of elections, particularly the active politicians and electorates to play by the rules of the game.

The Kogi and Imo re-run elections were supervised from the Police perspective by DIGs Funsho Adebanjo and Joshua Habila.

Oru East, Isiala Mbano, Okigwe North Re-run Declared Inconclusive

Okigwe North, Oru East, Election, Imo, Isiala MbanoThe re-run elections in Oru East, Isiala Mbano state constituencies and Okigwe North senatorial constituency in Imo State have been declared inconclusive.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Nasir Ayilara, spoke to Channels Television clearing the air on the result that was earlier announced by the returning officer that the APC candidate won the election.

Mr Ayilara said that the returning officer who later reported in the INEC office at Owerri said he was put under duress to make the declaration against his wish.

The REC also said the Isiala Mbano State Constituency election was inconclusive following the problem of over voting.

The APC candidate for Owerri constituency election has been declared winner while the Imo North senatorial district election was inconclusive.

Also in Kogi State, Air Marshal Isaac Alfa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has emerged winner in the Kogi East senatorial re-run election.

The Returning Officer, Professor Lucky Ovwasa, said that Air Marshal Alfa gathered a total vote of 56,572 ahead of his opponent from the Labour Party who scored 111, 908 votes.

INEC Sets July 23 For Kogi Rerun Elections

INEC, Elections, KogiThe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to conduct rerun elections in Kogi State on Saturday, July 23.

The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Samuel Usman, disclosed this at a gathering with reporters on Tuesday in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital in north-central Nigeria.

He noted that at least 1,390 ad hoc staff of the INEC were preparing for the coming polls.

Mr Usman explained that the new date was agreed on after due consultation with relevant stakeholders both at the state and national level.`

He advised the electorate to show respect for the rule of law and assured voters that the polls would be free and fair.

INEC Promises Credible Rerun Elections In Kogi

Kogi, INEC, ElectionsThe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has offered assurances that it would conduct free, fair and credible rerun elections in Kogi State.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Samuel Usman, gave the assurance while speaking at a stakeholders meeting at the electoral umpire’s headquarters in Lokoja, the capital of the northern Nigerian State.

Mr Usman explained that reason for convening the meeting of political parties, civil society organisations and security agencies was in preparation to conduct a repeat of the poll and avoid another cancellation.

He pleaded with various stakeholders at the parley to work in partnership with INEC for credible results.

In his remarks, the acting Director of the National Orientation Agency in Kogi State, Abdullahi Mohammed, pointed out some pitfalls to avoid during the election period.

While a representative of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Samuel Adejoh, complained of non-inclusion, the Kogi State Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sam Abenemi, blamed security agencies for electoral problems.

In his reaction to the response by the INEC Legal Officer of the State, Hammed Usman, the APC’s representative refused to sign the resolution.

This comes after rerun elections in the state’s east senatorial district and the House of Assembly elections of February were declared inconclusive following reports of ballot box snatching and other malpractices.