INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION DAILY BULLETIN VOLUME: 1 N0.: 710 DATE: 16 / 01 / 2015 IDPs: INEC TO HOLD STAKEHOLDERS FORUM ON TUESDAY To get the robust buy-in and support of the modalities it has articulated to ensure that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) exercise their franchise in next month’s elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to hold a crucial meeting with stakeholders on Tuesday, 20th January 2015. Stakeholders to attend the meeting are: (i.) Three (3) representatives of the State Governments of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe; (ii.) Members of the State Houses of Assembly from the three States; (iii.) Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly from the three States; (iv.) Religious Leaders (CAN and SCIA); (v.) Representatives of Security Agencies comprising Army, Police, DSS, Office of NSA, Chief of Defence Staff and Civil Defence Corps; (vi.) Director General NEMA; (vii.) CSOs (Cleen Foundation, ACE etc); (viii.) DG IPCR; (ix.) Present and Former RECs of the States; and (x.) Administrative Secretaries of the States. Determined to ensure that the IDPs are not disenfranchised in February’s elections, the Commission had two months ago organized a Roundtable to discuss the fate of the IDPs. Experts and academics generated brilliant ideas to address the issue of the IDPs which were submitted to the Commission. Thereafter, the Commission set up a Task Force on how to get the IDPs to vote within the ambit of the extant laws. The nine-member Task Force headed by National Commissioner, Thelma Iremiren had the following terms of reference: (a) Examine the legal, political, security and administrative challenges in achieving IDP voting during the 2015 General Election; (b) Evaluate the standards and recommendations emerging from conferences and workshops by international and local agencies on IDP voting, and determine their applicability to Nigeria for the 2015 General Election; (c) Review the experiences of other jurisdictions in dealing with the challenges of IDP voting; (d) Evaluate the adequacy of existing electoral legal frame-work for resolving the challenges of IDP voting in the 2015 General Election; (e) Determine what the Commission can do to ensure that IDPs are not disenfranchised, if the existing legal framework is inadequate; (f) Determine the scope of IDP participation that is practicable in the 2015 General Election; and (g) Submit a comprehensive report, which should embody specific recommendations on IDP participation in the 2015 General Election. INEC TO HOLD TWO-DAY NATIONAL YOUTH SUMMIT The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in collaboration with UNDP-DGD, is to hold a two-day National Youth Summit from Monday 19th to Tuesday, 20th January 2015. The Summit which theme is ‘Nigerian Youths: Working For Peaceful Elections, Deepening Nigeria’s Democracy” is to take place at the Chelsea Hotel, Abuja. A keynote address will be delivered at the occasion by the INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega. Goodwill messages are to be presented by the Minister of Youth Development, Boni Haruna; Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. General, Johnson Olawumi; Chairman Interparty Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr Yunusa Tanko; USAID Country Manager, Michael Harvey; European Union Delegation; ECOWAS Elections Unit; and Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA). Reply, Reply All or Forward | More NDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION DAILY BULLETIN VOLUME: 1 N0.: 709 DATE: 15 / 01 / 2015 2015: JONATHAN, BUHARI, OTHER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES SIGN PACT AGAINST VIOLENCE President Goodluck Jonathan and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, and other presidential candidates in the February 14 election, yesterday signed an undertaking committing them to violence-free election. The pact, known as the “Abuja Declaration Accord,” was adopted by acclamation by the candidates at the 2015 general election sensitization workshop on non-violence held at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, jointly organized by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and office of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs. Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who was Chairman of the occasion, read the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting. He said the political parties agreed to: “run issue-based campaigns at national, state and local government levels. In this, we pledged to refrain from campaigns that will involve religious incitement, ethnic or tribal profiling both by ourselves and by all agents acting in our names. “To refrain from making or causing to make in our names or that of our party any public statements, pronouncements, declarations or speeches that have the capacity to incite any form of violence before, during and after the election. “To forcefully and publicly speak out against provocative utterances and oppose all acts of electoral violence, whether perpetrated by our supporters and or opponents. “To commit ourselves and political parties to the monitoring of the adherence to this accord if necessary by a national peace committee made up of respected statesmen and women, traditional and religious leaders.” The communiqué added that: “all the institutions of government, including INEC and security agencies, must act and be seen to act with impartiality.” President Goodluck said the country must avoid a repeat of the 2011 post-general elections violence which he said was adjudged the best in the country’s history. He pointed out that what leads to electoral violence is not necessarily electoral malpractice but could be provocative statements by contestants, threats to opponents, religious leaders who preach hate, inflammatory and provocative pronouncements of ethnic leaders which could have adverse effects. While stressing that “Government must strengthen security”, President Goodluck urged INEC to do everything to convince Nigerians that whatever method it is employing is safe and will ensure credibility in the process. He said: “INEC must come out and assure Nigerians that they will vote and their votes will count and their mandate is protected.” He called on all contestants to join hands and support the Commission to make the elections free, fair, and credible and violence free. The APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd), called for the strengthening of democratic institutions in Nigeria. He said before every general election, there is usually amendment to the Electoral Act making it difficult to cheat. On his part, the special guest of honour and former Secretary-General of United Nations, Mr. Kofi Anan said: “Nigeria is the Big Brother of the region. Whatever happens in Nigeria affects the African Region”. He harped on the fact that “elections are not the sole responsibility of INEC, because INEC has a key technical role to place and have certain difficulties to overcome, notably logistics, and probably public communication but the political parties and their candidates can support in its responsibility of ensuring free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.” The former United Nations Secretary General also urged the political parties and their candidates to avoid inflammatory language and make their discussions and campaigns issue-based, and cautioned their supporters not to resort to violence if the results do not favour them. He had a few words for the Nigerian voting population, who he urged to ensure they participate in the electoral process, saying, “you cannot abstain and still complain”. ATTITUDE OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND CONTESTANTS WILL DETERMINE PEACEFUL ELECTIONS – JEGA With high expectations from Nigerians and the international community regarding free, fair credible and peaceful conduct of the 2015 elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega has said the attitude of political parties and contestants will also play a major part in achieving this. Professor Jega, while speaking yesterday at a sensitization workshop on non violence elections in 2015 held at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, affirmed that INEC “will conduct the 2015 general elections without partisanship, with professionalism, neutrality, and create a level playing field for all contestants in the electioneering process”. But the INEC chairman was quick to point out that: “It is very important to recognise that in a country like Nigeria, there are many factors that can lead to violence in election, but the attitude and disposition of parties and candidates will determine to a large extent whether we have peaceful elections or non violent elections”. He admitted that as an election management body, “INEC has an important responsibility: it has to do its job with professionalism, with competence and with non partisanship”, adding that same applies to security agencies. Professor Jega identified “ten tenets of Violence-free party politics”, which he said will support peaceful elections. They include: “internal party democracy, effective intra-party conflict resolution, Accountability, supremacy of rules and uncertainty of electoral outcomes. Others are willingness to accept outcomes, moderation in electioneering, trust in institutional redress, promotion of inclusiveness and well trained staff”. The INEC boss challenged key stakeholders in the electoral process to make an undertaking that they will engage in the process with the commitment to ensure that the elections are free, fair and peaceful. “Unless we all make this undertaking and live by the words we express we may contribute inadvertently or advertently to undermining the integrity of the elections and to creating unnecessary conflict in the electoral process.” he said. INEC DISMISSES STAFF OVER THEFT OF PVCs AND ABSENCE FROM DUTY The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed two of its officers for alleged theft and burglary of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in its Patani Local Government Area office of Delta state. The dismissed officers are: Mr. Collins Omofoma (SGL 09 Officer) and Mr. Onome Avbunudiogba (SGL 07 Officer). Also, the Commission has terminated the appointment of Mrs Obi Chinwoke Ugochi, an Administrative Officer II (SGL 08) for alleged absence from duty without leave. Mrs Ugochi is of the Commission’s Anambra state office. According to two Decision Extracts date 8th January 2015 and signed by the Director (Commission’s Secretariat), Ishiaku A. Gali, the dismissal and termination of the three staff followed the Commission’s meeting held on Thursday, 8th January 2015. NDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION DAILY BULLETIN VOLUME: 1 N0.: 708 DATE: 14 / 01 / 2015 INEC FORMALLY PRESENTS REGISTER OF VOTERS In compliance with the law, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday formally published and presented to leaders of Nigeria’s political parties the National Register of Voters to be used to conduct next month’s general elections. The INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, who presented the Register at the Commission’s Conference Hall at the INEC head-quarters said the total number of voters registered for the February 14th and 28th elections is 68,833,476. Section 20 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides that the Commission shall publish the National Register of Voters thirty days to a general election. Also yesterday, the Commission, in concert with the law, duly published the list of candidates for the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for 14th February 2015. For the Presidential election, there are 14 candidates duly nominated by political parties. For the Senatorial elections there are 739 candidates while for the House of Representatives elections, there are 1,780 candidates. INEC TO CONDUCT ELECTIONS IN RESTIVE NORTH EAST; IT IS FINALISING ARRANGEMENTS FOR IDPS The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is prepared to conduct elections in the thirty-six (36) states of the federations and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including the North East states which are experiencing the challenge of insurgency. In doing this, the Commission will work closely with the security agencies. The INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega who re-emphasised this at a press conference yesterday at the INEC headquarters also said the Commission was finalizing arrangements to enable Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to vote. He disclosed that on Tuesday next week, the Commission will have a meeting with stakeholders where it would present its (Commission’s) plans and get their inputs as well as buy-in. INEC TO DEPLOY CARD READERS IN FEBRUARY ELECTIONS; HAS RECEIVED 132,000 UNITS The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to deploy card readers to verify voters at Polling Units in next month’s elections and already it has received 132,000 units. The INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, disclosed this yesterday when he addressed a press conference at the Commission’s headquarters. He further disclosed that an additional 25,000 units of the Card Readers will arrive the country this weekend while the outstanding will arrive before 24th January 2014. Professor Jega explained that the Card Readers had been tested severally and reiterated that the Commission and leaders of the political parties had agreed before now that only the PVCs would be used by eligible voters to vote and that only the Card Readers would be deployed to authenticate voters. He reminded Nigerians that the Permanent Voter Cards would be distributed all over the country at the ward level until shortly before the election and that Nigerians who had not collected theirs should take advantage of this window to collect them. Professor Jega said the Commission was determined that all those it registered in 2011 and 2014 collected their PVCs and that they exercised their franchise in next month’s elections. INCREASING WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN ELECTORAL PROCESS A PRIORITY – INEC Barely 30 days to the 2015 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has reiterated its commitment towards increasing women’s participation in the electoral process. Chairman of the Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, gave the assurance when a coalition of women under the umbrella of Women’s Platform for Peaceful Elections paid a courtesy call to the Commission’s headquarters yesterday. The INEC Chairman who was represented by National Commissioner Nne Gladys Nwafor, said: “since inception, the Commission has been particularly concerned with increasing women participation in the electoral process,” adding that “we have been engaging religious leaders, traditional rulers and other relevant stakeholders through meetings and advocacy visits to encourage women to come out en-masse to participate in the political process.” The National Commissioner revealed that INEC has allocated resources towards voter education with emphasis on increasing women participation in politics. On electoral violence, Mrs. Gladys Nwafor, observed that since 2011, there have been a decline in the rate of cases due to collaborations with security agencies and also increasing awareness created by INEC and stakeholders in the electoral process. She pledged the Commission’s support to activities of the organisation, saying: “it is a welcome development which will add value and ensure that elections are free, fair and credible”. Earlier the leader of the delegation and president of the Women for Peaceful Elections, Mrs. Joy Onyesoh had explained that the organisation’s mandate was to “ensure full participation of women in the electoral process to ensure peace and stability in Nigeria through consultations, advocacy visits and capacity building.” She informed the Commission of its intention to mobilise women across the six geo-political zones, and have observations in ten states of: Imo, Kaduna, Anambra, Enugu, Gombe, Plateau, Rivers, Benue, Lagos and FCT. Mrs. Onyesoh while commending INEC for the launch of the Gender Policy, urged the commission to ensure “concrete implementation of the policy”, to achieve the desired aim. INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION DAILY BULLETIN VOLUME: 1 N0.: 706 DATE: 12 / 01 / 2015 INEC DECENTRALISES PVC DISTRIBUTION The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ordered the decentralisation of on-going distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to Ward levels, in order to enhance access by persons yet to collect their cards. Before now, the distribution was done at the local government offices of the Commission since the end of distribution at the polling unit level. But distribution of the PVCs will henceforth be at Ward level nationwide. The Commission, at its meeting on Thursday, January 8th, 2015, resolved that the period for distribution of the cards should be extended. Registered voters who are yet to collect their cards can now do so from 8. 30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. daily. Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Augusta C. Ogakwu said Resident Electoral Commissioners have been mandated to set up effective monitoring strategies and ensure that the specified hours are strictly complied with by relevant INEC staff. INEC TO PRESENT VOTERS’ REGISTER TO POLITICAL PARTIES TOMORROW The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to formally present to political parties copies of the Voters’ Register to be used in conducting the 2015 General Elections tomorrow. The ceremony is to take place at the Conference Hall, INEC headquarters, Abuja. This is a crucial miles-tone on the journey to the 2015 General Elections. Section 20 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides that the Register of Voters for an election shall be published at least thirty (30) days before the elections. The 2015 General Elections will take place on 14th and 28th February 2015. Also, the Timetable And Schedule of Activities for the 2015 General Elections released to the public on 24th January 2014 shows under item 10 that the Commission shall release/publish the official Register of Voters for the election on 13th January 2015. By the same token, the Commission shall publish the list of nominated candidates contesting for the Presidency and National Assembly on 13th January 2015. The list of those contesting for the offices of Governor and House of Assembly will be published on 27th January 2015. Reply, Reply All or Forward | More Click to reply all
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 12:23:48 +0000
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