The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: Inec

  • SERAP Gives INEC Seven Days to Explain Alleged ₦126bn Electoral Spending

    SERAP Gives INEC Seven Days to Explain Alleged ₦126bn Electoral Spending

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has given the Independent National Electoral Commission seven days to account for more than ₦126.46bn in electoral funds flagged over alleged procurement irregularities.

    SERAP made the demand in a statement issued by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, following concerns raised in the 2023 audited report of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

    The audit report, published on August 7, 2026, examined government transactions between January and December 2022, with some findings extending to December 31, 2023.

    According to SERAP, the funds in question were linked to the procurement of ballot boxes, electoral devices and other materials, sensitive electoral materials, result sheets, vehicles and other services related to election administration.

    The organisation said some of the payments were allegedly made without following required procurement procedures, while the delivery or utilisation of some of the goods and services could not be established.

    SERAP urged INEC to provide details of the amounts paid, beneficiaries, contracts and procurement processes, as well as the contractors and suppliers involved.

    It also asked the commission to provide evidence of the delivery and utilisation of the goods and services and account for the current status of the electoral assets involved.

    The organisation further called on INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, to refer the alleged financial irregularities to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for investigation.

    SERAP said the agencies should prosecute anyone found culpable and recover public funds where wrongdoing is established.

    One of the major issues highlighted by the organisation involved more than ₦112.15bn allegedly paid for ballot boxes, electoral devices, items and materials without competitive bidding or a Certificate of No Objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement.

    SERAP said the Auditor-General reported that there was no evidence that the items were procured.

    The organisation also said the audit raised questions about the companies involved, including concerns over their competence, experience, capacity, addresses and factory locations.

    SERAP maintained that INEC must account for the funds and demonstrate that they were spent for their intended purposes.

  • 2027: INEC Publishes Final List of 4,408 National Assembly Candidates

    2027: INEC Publishes Final List of 4,408 National Assembly Candidates

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Independent National Electoral Commission has released the final list of candidates contesting the 2027 National Assembly elections, with 4,408 candidates cleared to vie for seats in the Senate and House of Representatives.

    An analysis of the candidate documents published by the electoral body showed that 1,195 candidates are contesting Senate seats, while 3,213 are seeking election into the House of Representatives.

    The publication comes as political parties step up preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027.

    INEC’s timetable also fixed February 6, 2027, for the governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

    The figures released by the commission show a significant gender gap among the candidates, with 3,965 men and 443 women contesting the National Assembly seats.

    For the Senate, 1,080 candidates are male, while 115 are female.

    The House of Representatives list comprises 2,885 male candidates and 328 female candidates.

    The Allied Peoples Movement recorded the highest number of female candidates across the two chambers, with 11 women contesting Senate seats and 42 seeking election into the House of Representatives.

    Meanwhile, INEC has also published the final list of presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the 2027 general elections.

    The list, signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, contains 18 presidential candidates and their running mates across various political parties.

    Among the presidential candidates are President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Oyo State Governor Oluseyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement, Sandy Ojang Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party.

    Other candidates include Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje of the Action Alliance, Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Action Democratic Party, Yusuf Kabiru of the Action Peoples Party, Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress, Sunday Adenuga of the Boot Party, Adebisi Olusoji of the Democratic Labour Alliance, Sunday Okereke of the Labour Party, Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party, Peter Agada of the Young Progressive Party and Nwanyanwu Daberechukwu of the Zenith Labour Party.

    Ada Elizabeth Frederick Okwori of the National Democratic Party and Nkem Esther Okereke of the National Rescue Movement are the two female presidential candidates listed by the commission.

    The release of the various candidate lists marks another stage in INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.

  • 2027: Ebonyi Govt Accuses Opposition of Campaign of Calumny Against Nwifuru

    2027: Ebonyi Govt Accuses Opposition of Campaign of Calumny Against Nwifuru

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Ebonyi State Government has accused opposition parties and their supporters of engaging in a campaign of calumny against Governor Francis Nwifuru ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    The government alleged that some opposition figures and individuals presenting themselves as civil society campaigners had resorted to abusive statements and inflammatory rhetoric against the governor and his administration.

    The allegation was made by the Special Assistant to Governor Nwifuru on Inter-party Affairs, Sunday Nwambam, who condemned what he described as an attempt to discredit the state government rather than engage in issue-based political campaigns.

    Nwambam said the political season should provide an opportunity for political parties and candidates to present their programmes to the electorate instead of making what he described as unsubstantiated allegations against the government.

    He accused some opposition actors of deliberately ignoring the achievements of the Nwifuru administration in infrastructure, education, security and economic empowerment.

    “Let me state, categorically, that what is going on in the state is not an issue-based campaign as expected, but a calculated attempt to destroy the state by those who have turned blind eyes to the quantum of achievements of the present administration in the area of road infrastructure, education, security, and economic empowerment,” he said.

    Nwambam maintained that political opponents had the right to criticise the administration and canvass support for their preferred candidates, but insisted that such activities must be conducted within the boundaries of the law.

    He said the governor’s administration was established under the Constitution and should be engaged through lawful and democratic means.

    “The administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru is an institution founded in the law of the land and, whether politics or not, must be preserved, protected, and engaged within the context of relevant laws and constitutional provisions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

    Highlighting some of the administration’s achievements, Nwambam said the state government had established universities at Ezza and Oferekpe and sponsored hundreds of Ebonyi indigenes for studies abroad.

    He also cited the government’s agricultural empowerment programmes, which he said had provided training and starter packs to thousands of beneficiaries.

    According to him, the administration has also implemented measures aimed at restoring peace in previously troubled communities while strengthening security across the state.

    Nwambam claimed that there had been no successful kidnapping or abduction incident in Ebonyi since Nwifuru assumed office, describing the development as evidence of the administration’s security efforts.

    He further pointed to the construction of smart schools across various local government areas and other government projects as evidence of the administration’s performance.

    The governor’s aide questioned the records of some opposition figures who, he alleged, were presenting themselves as alternatives to the current administration without adequately explaining their previous contributions to the state.

    He also criticised what he described as a pattern in which politicians allegedly return to the state during election periods with large convoys, before leaving after the elections.

    Nwambam’s comments came amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections and recent warnings concerning inflammatory political rhetoric.

    He expressed concern over what he described as an increase in abusive and incendiary statements in the state, saying such rhetoric could undermine peaceful political participation.

    The governor’s aide also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to enforce relevant provisions of the Electoral Act against individuals who engage in hate speech or incitement during political campaigns.

    “It is unfortunate that a high spate of campaign of calumny in Ebonyi State is coming on the heels of recent warnings by INEC to political parties and candidates on the use of abusive, inflammatory or threatening language during campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections,” he said.

    Nwambam called on INEC to ensure that anyone found to have violated applicable electoral laws was held accountable.

    “As part of efforts to curb toxic political rhetoric, my office encourages INEC to ensure that those who violate relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 are subjected to the demands of the law,” he added.

    He cited Section 96(7) of the Electoral Act, claiming that a candidate convicted of using hate speech or inciting violence during campaigns could face a fine of up to N5 million, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both.

    The Ebonyi State Government has continued to defend the performance of the Nwifuru administration as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.

    The opposition parties in the state have yet to publicly respond to the allegations contained in Nwambam’s statement.

  • 2027 Elections: INEC Launches Nationwide Tracker for Election Readiness

    2027 Elections: INEC Launches Nationwide Tracker for Election Readiness

    The Independent National Electoral Commission has unveiled a new operational strategy aimed at strengthening its preparations and identifying potential challenges ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

    The strategy centres on a real-time monitoring system that will allow the commission’s headquarters to track the preparedness of its offices across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

    INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan announced the initiative while opening a two-day Strategic Operational Workshop for the commission’s Administrative Secretaries in Lagos.

    The commission is introducing an Administrative Secretary Master Operational Tracker Template, described as a data-driven tool that will provide real-time information on the readiness of INEC offices nationwide.

    The system will be linked directly to INEC’s Election Monitoring and Support Centre, enabling the commission to monitor critical aspects of election preparations, including the distribution of materials and training of personnel.

    Amupitan said the initiative was designed to shift the commission towards a more proactive approach to election management by identifying and addressing potential problems before they disrupt the electoral process.

    He described Administrative Secretaries as the “engine room” of INEC’s operations at the state level and urged them to maintain strict operational discipline as preparations for the elections gather pace.

    The INEC chairman said lessons from recent off-cycle elections, particularly the Osun State election, should be expanded and transformed into a national standard ahead of 2027.

    “If you tolerate shortcuts, shortcuts will multiply. If you tolerate political interference, neutrality will deteriorate,” Amupitan told the officials.

    He said the commission needed an administrative culture capable of delivering credible elections and urged its state-level officials to identify and address bottlenecks that could undermine preparations.

    The new strategy will focus on five major areas considered critical to the successful conduct of the elections.

    They include voter registration and the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards, as the national voter register approaches 100 million voters.

    INEC will also examine logistics and election material management, covering the receipt, auditing, storage and deployment of sensitive materials across the country.

    Electoral technology will form another major component of the preparations, with officials expected to improve their understanding and management of systems, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, the INEC Results Viewing Portal and the Candidate Registration and Results Management System.

    Human resources will also receive attention, particularly the recruitment, vetting and technology training of ad-hoc election personnel.

    The commission will additionally focus on financial compliance, including workflow automation and adherence to procurement regulations.

    INEC’s preparations come as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections continue to intensify, with political parties beginning to position themselves for contests at the federal and state levels.

    According to the commission’s timetable, the final register of voters is expected to be published on January 11, 2027, ahead of the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to commence on January 16.

    Campaign activities are expected to end on February 18, while a possible presidential run-off has been scheduled for February 28. Governorship and State House of Assembly elections are expected to follow on March 6. The Guardian

  • NDC Disowns 10 Anambra Candidates, Demands INEC Portal Audit

    NDC Disowns 10 Anambra Candidates, Demands INEC Portal Audit

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has formally disowned 10 candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 Anambra State House of Assembly elections, insisting that it neither nominated the individuals nor submitted their Form EC9E documents.

    The party has demanded an immediate electronic audit of INEC’s nomination portal to figure out how the credentials and names of these candidates were entered into the commission’s system.

    The NDC Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, Theophilus Agada, disclosed the party’s stance in an official statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

    “The 10 names published by INEC neither emerged from the party’s nomination process nor its appeal process,” Agada stated. “The NDC uploaded only candidates who emerged from our appeal process, but the commission rejected the names approved by the party and subsequently published persons unknown to us.”

    The 10 disowned candidates published on INEC’s list are:

    Umennaajiego Ezenwa (Onitsha South 1)

    Akpotue Chibuike (Onitsha South II)

    Nwankwo Chiemerie (Orumba North)

    Maduagwu Eric K. (Anaocha I)

    Ngoebisi Obinna (Idemili North)

    Isintume Charles (Njikoka I)

    Nwachukwu Nonso (Nnewi South I)

    Okeke Akunne (Nnewi South II)

    Nnonyelu Samson E. (Ayamelum)

    Azotani Francis (Dunukofia)

    The opposition party maintained that the candidate nomination framework is clearly legally defined, making political parties solely responsible for uploading the names and particulars of their candidates before the electoral body processes and publishes them.

    “It is the party’s legal responsibility to submit the names and credentials of its nominated candidates,” the statement emphasized. “The NDC did not collect or forward completed EC9E forms for the 10 persons whose names later appeared on INEC’s published list.”

    Agada subsequently questioned the origin of the documents in INEC’s possession, asking: “How did the commission obtain their credentials when it is the party’s legal duty to submit the names of its approved candidates?”

    On Monday, August 31, 2026, the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, told journalists that the commission does not possess the legal authority to nominate candidates for political parties or substitute validly nominated flagbearers with its own preferred choices.

  • Court overturns own judgment ordering INEC to recognise NDC

    Court overturns own judgment ordering INEC to recognise NDC

    A Federal High Court in Lokoja on Friday set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

    Justice Isah Dashen, the presiding judge held that all relevant parties must be heard before any substantive decision can be made in the matter.

    The court upheld the application filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), ruling that the party was a necessary party to the suit.According to the judge, the earlier judgment was constitutionally defective as it was delivered without hearing from all interested parties.

    He declared that such an omission rendered the entire process null and void.

    Justice Dashen further ruled that the status quo be restored to what it was before the December 2025 judgment, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    He also observed that certain material facts were suppressed in the earlier proceedings, which justified the decision to set aside the judgment.

    Consequently, the court ordered that the substantive suit should begin afresh, with INEC, the PMP and the NDC as parties to the case.

    NAN reports that Counsel to the applicant, Chikezie Ekeocha, told journalists that the PMP approached the court after discovering that NDC’s registration was based on a logo it had previously submitted to INEC before the commencement of the suit.

    According to Ekeocha, the court agreed that the applicant’s rights had been affected and consequently vacated the earlier judgment.

    “The court has ordered all parties to return to the position they occupied before the judgment of December 10, 2025, and directed the claimants to join all necessary parties to ensure the issues in dispute are effectually and completely determined,” he said.

    He explained that the implication of the ruling is that every action taken by INEC in compliance with the now-vacated judgment stands reversed.

    “The recognition of the NDC, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC’s records, and any appearance on ballot papers arising from that judgment must be withdrawn pending the final determination of the substantive suit,” Ekeocha stated.

    He, however, clarified that the substantive case remains before the court and has not been decided.

    “The matter has not been concluded. The court merely set aside its previous judgment and directed that the party whose interests were affected be joined so that all sides can be heard before a fresh decision is reached.”

    Ekeocha also dismissed suggestions that the court merely ordered parties to maintain the status quo, insisting that the ruling specifically directed a restoration of the position that existed before the December 10, 2025 judgment.

    The ruling effectively returns the dispute over the registration of the NDC to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing, with all relevant parties expected to participate before a new determination is made. (NAN)

  • 17 Political Parties Make INEC-Published Final List For Ondo Gubernatorial Election

    17 Political Parties Make INEC-Published Final List For Ondo Gubernatorial Election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has published the final list of candidates for the Ondo State Governorship election in Southwest Nigeria.

    The breakdown indicates that 17 political parties fielded candidates for the 16 November 2024 polls.

    This is coming on the heels of the Commission publishing the personal particulars of the governorship candidates and their running mates in the State and Local Government offices.

    The National Commissioner and chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun in a press statement, said “Seventeen (17) political parties are fielding candidates for the election. No political party has nominated a female candidate while one (1) candidate nominated by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is a person with disability (a paraplegic). The final list also gives the breakdown of the candidates by age and academic qualifications.”

    Olumekun noted that the publication of the final list is in line with the provision of Section 33 of the Electoral Act 2022, and that “Two (2) political parties conducted fresh primaries to replace their earlier nominated candidates and their running mates by the deadline of 10th June 2024. The parties are the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) while five (5) parties replaced their running mates only. They are the African Action Congress (AAC), the Action Democratic Party (ADP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)”.

    He said the list has been published at the commission’s office in Akure, the state capital, and also uploaded on its website and social media platforms for public information.

    Commencement of public campaign

    The next stage of activities leading up to the election, after the publication of the final list of candidates is the electioneering campaign.

    Sam Olumekun stated that as provided by Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, “Campaigns by political parties in public shall commence not earlier than 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours before that day.

    “Therefore, Political Parties are now permitted to start their campaign in public from Wednesday 19th June 2024, and end at midnight on Thursday 14th November 2024 as indicated in items 8 and 12 of the timetable and schedule of activities for the election”.

    Olumekun described the campaigns as the critical phase of the election, reminding the candidates, agents, and their supporters of the provision of the law and the Commission’s guidelines governing such activity.

    “For emphasis, parties shall conduct their campaigns with civility and decorum devoid of inciting language, violence, voter inducement, and other infractions per the provisions of Section 92-97 of the Electoral Act 2022”.

    VON

  • Presidential Poll: INEC maintenans Presidential Election date, says no adjustment to date

    Presidential Poll: INEC maintenans Presidential Election date, says no adjustment to date

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said it was not contemplating shifting or adjustment the timelines for the forthcoming polls.The electoral body insisted that on no account would it allow anti-democratic forces and fifth columnists confuse the Nigerian people on the plans and intentions of the Commission.

    The clarification became imperative following a report by a national daily that the electoral body was contemplating postponing the presidential election by two weeks due to recent attacks suffered by the commission, especially in the south-east.However, reacting to the report, INEC National Commission on Publicity and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, told THISDAY that the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has consistently and emphatically assured the nation that the dates fixed for the conduct of the 2023 general election were fixed and firm.

    He explained: “The question of shifting, postponement or adjustment of the timelines are not on the table and are not being contemplated by the Commission.“The purveyors of postponement cannot speak for the Commission. Their views are in the realm of imaginative speculation and not grounded on the realities on ground.”

    Okoye reiterated that the Commission has implemented 12 out of the 14 items on its timetable and schedule of activities.He noted that the entire Bi-modal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) required for the conduct of the election in the 176,846 polling units and the redundancies for the 8,809 Registration Areas have been tested and certified fit for purpose.

    Okoye stressed that the Commission would use 436 out of this for mock accreditation in 12 polling units in each of the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This is expected to take place on February 4, 2023.He added: “Thereafter they will be purged and configured for the 2023 general election. The non-sensitive materials required for the election are in our zonal stores and in the states. They are being batched in accordance with the registration areas.

    “The Commission has delivered a substantial number of the sensitive materials required for the conduct of the election to the Central Bank of Nigeria. The materials will be inspected by the Commission, the political parties, the media, and civil society groups a few days before their movement to the various Local Government Offices of the Commission.”

    Okoye pointed out that the Commission has revised and firmed up its Memorandum of Understanding with the various transport and marine unions.He reiterated that INEC would hire at least 100,000 vehicles to convey election personnel and materials to locations, stressing that the Commission would also hire boats for the same purpose.

    Okoye further recalled that the Commission has met with the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, saying they have assured the commission of the availability of products during the period and the Commission was encouraged by this. He disclosed that INEC also met with leadership of the federal courts headed by His Lordship, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, and he assured the Commission that the judiciary was ready for the elections.

    Okoye added: “There is no justifiable reason for the speculation relating to the postponement or rescheduling of the election.“We must on no account allow anti-democratic forces and fifth columnists to confuse the Nigerian people on the plans and intentions of the Commission.“The Commission is working hard for the Nigerian people and will deliver free, fair, credible, verifiable and inclusion elections.”

    Okoye said moreover, Sections 132 and 178 of the constitution have circumscribed the period for the conduct of national and state elections.He noted that it would be in the interest of the Nigerian people and in the interest of “our democracy to hold the elections on the dates and times set out by the Commission.”“We must continue to assure Nigerians that they will vote in a safe environment, that their votes will be safe and that their votes will count and be counted. We must not dignify fallacious speculations not grounded on facts and reality,” Okoye added.

    (This Day)

  • Fuel scarcity may have perilous effects on elections’ logistics – INEC

    Fuel scarcity may have perilous effects on elections’ logistics – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed fears that ongoing fuel scarcity may affect its logistics for the forthcoming elections.

    Its chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stated this, yesterday, at a consultative meeting with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

    He said challenges with logistics have remained a perennial problem in elections administration in Nigeria, saying for this year’s polls “our arrangements may be negatively affected by the non-availability of products.”

    He said for this reason, the commission is collaborating with the NURTW and the Marine Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) to ensure hitch-free arrangements on election day.

    “The commission is aware that this is an enormous task. Election is the largest deployment a nation periodically undertakes and mobilisation of vehicles for election is a large and complex exercise. However, this comes only once in four years. What is critical here is forward planning. We have presented to the union the number and specifications of the vehicles required for the election. We have also indicated to you the locations where the vehicles are needed. Happily, your members are spread across the country. Therefore, vehicles conveying personnel and materials will not travel long distances. In fact, all movements should be within a state and preferably within local government areas. There should be no inter-state movement.

    “We are working with the security agencies to ensure the safety of your members and their vehicles during the election. Just like our election duty personnel, their safety is paramount. That is why in the most recent elections conducted by the commission, the leadership of your union at state level attended several meetings with our officials and the security agencies.”

    The INEC chairman said the commission shares the transport union’s concern about the fuel situation and its impact on transportation on election day.

    “The truth is that our arrangements may be negatively affected by the non-availability of products. For this reason, the Commission will this afternoon meet with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to look into ways to ameliorate the situation,” he said.

    However, the NNPCL Group General Manager Melee Koko Kyari has assured of adequate fuelsupply on election days.

    Kyari gave the assurance during a meeting with INEC leadership in Abuja, yesterday.

    “We know that logistic is a major component of electoral duties. NNPC has always supported INEC, in making sure that fuel is made available to all vehicles that are involved in the electoral process.Needless to say that there was no formal framework for that, and there were no even exact formal requests for this. All the same, we are always conscious of the necessity to provide support to INEC whenever elections take place.”

    (Sun)

  • Hoodlums set Ebonyi INEC office ablaze, destroy PVCs, ballot boxes

    Hoodlums set Ebonyi INEC office ablaze, destroy PVCs, ballot boxes

    HOODLUMS have set ablaze the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, destroying, among others, 340 ballot boxes and yet to be determined quantity of Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs.

    The attack is the third on INEC’s local government offices in less than three weeks, following similar attacks in Ogun and Osun states on November 10, 2022.

    INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, disclosed this in a statement, yesterday.

    He said the Ebonyi Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mrs. Onyeka Ugochi, reported that the commission’s Izzi Local Government Area office, located in Iboko, was set ablaze, yesterday morning.

    “The incident occurred around 10.00am when some unidentified persons set the entire building ablaze,” said Okoye.

    He said although no casualties resulted from the attack, “the main building and all the movable and immovable items inside it were destroyed. These include 340 ballot boxes, 130 voting cubicles, 14 electric power generators, large water storage tanks, assorted office furniture and fixtures and yet to be determined quantities of Permanent Voters’ Cards.

    “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies has been drawn to the incident and have commenced investigation,” said Okoye.

    Pirates kill 6 in Akwa Ibom, burn house

    communities of Adiadia and Issiet Ekim, in Uruan Local Government Area of Àkwa Ibom State, are in mourning mood, following the invasion and killing of six persons by sea pirates.

    Besides, houses were razed at Issiet Ekim and a phone shop was looted at Adiadia, making residents desert the communities.

    A resident said: “The Issiet community is deserted. We leave the community at 6 pm and only return in the morning. We live in fear, but we are assured that security will be beefed up with the establishment of security posts in the two communities,” a source said.

    Meanwhile, Akwa Ibom state deputy governor, Moses Ekpo, has condoled with the people of the communities over the loss of lives and property in the attacks.

    Ekpo, who was accompanied on the visit by the Commissioner of Police, Mr O A Durosinma, and the Chairman of Uruan Local Government, Surveyor Iniobong Ekpenyong, said the government was concerned about the welfare of its people and would do everything within its power to avenge the deaths and ensure that succour is brought to the communities.

    He announced that with two Divisional Police stations established in the area, a full-force team would be deployed to patrol the communities which will further curtail the security threat.

    He stated that there was a need for oneness among the people so that effective communication could flow between the people, security agencies and the government.

    “Government and security agencies cannot function well without adequate information,” he said.

    Earlier, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. O. A. Durosinma, said the police command would establish a division in the area, while working with the government to ensure that lives and properties are secured, by beefing the area with more police presence.

    He added that the communities have a significant role to play in policing what belongs to them by being their brother’s keeper, while also affirming that more police officers will be deployed to the area.

    For his part, the chairman of the Uruan local government, Iniobong Ekpenyong, expressed gratitude to the state government for the “show of love and concern towards the people of Uruan,“ while also assuring that government prioritizes the welfare of the citizens and will tackle the situation accordingly.

    (Vanguard)

  • PRESS RELEASE: Clarification on Electronic Transmission of Election Result

    PRESS RELEASE: Clarification on Electronic Transmission of Election Result

    PRESS RELEASE: Clarification on Electronic Transmission of Election Result

    “The Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) attention has been drawn to a misunderstanding arising from a recent short interview granted to a national newspaper on the procedure for result management during elections. Some have interpreted the explanation on result management procedure to mean that the Commission has jettisoned the electronic transmission of result and reverted to the manual process. This is not correct.

    “For clarity, the procedure for result transmission remains the same as in recent Governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States. There will be no change in all future elections, including the 2023 General Election.

    “We wish to reassure Nigerians that the electronic transmission of result has come to stay. It adds to the credibility and transparency of the process when citizens follow polling unit level results on the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal on real-time on Election Day. There will be no change or deviation in subsequent elections.

    “The entire gamut of result management is provided for in Sections 60, 62 and 64 of the Electoral Act 2022. In line with the provision of the law, the Commission, in April this year, released a detailed clarification of the procedure for transmission, collation and declaration of result which was shared with all stakeholders and uploaded to our website.

    “We appeal to all Nigerians to avail themselves of the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Commission’s detailed explanation of the procedure and not reach a conclusion on the basis of media headlines.”

    Festus Okoye Esq.

    National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee Sunday 21st August 2022

  • Osun guber: INEC holds mock accreditation exercise

    Osun guber: INEC holds mock accreditation exercise

    Osun guber: INEC holds mock accreditation exercise

    INEC mock accreditation

    Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Monday, inspected a mock accreditation exercise in Osun ahead of July 16 governorship election in the state, promising that the commission will surpass its record in the recently concluded Ekiti gubernatorial poll.

    The mock accreditation being held in designated polling units is expected to touch six local government areas of the state, two registration areas and wards across the three senatorial districts, between Monday, July 4 and Tuesday, July 5, 2022.

    Speaking to journalists in Osogbo at CAC Araromi unit 40 ward 04, Yakubu said INEC has achieved 100 percent success for all persons who presented themselves for accreditation in the polling unit.

    “We are here on readiness assessment of the commission to conduct the governorship election on July 16, 2022, and also to visit some designated centres while we are doing a mock accreditation exercise.

    “In this particular centre, we achieve 100 per cent success for all those who presented themselves for accreditation so far.”

    Speaking with electoral officers present at Osogbo INEC, office, Yakubu urged them to cooperate with the commission in achieving a record that will beat that of Ekiti governorship election.

    “Identify the registration area centres (RAC) so that on the election you can activate the centres as early as 6am.

    “Remember, Ekiti was good, but we want Osun to beat our record in Ekiti and the 2023 general election. We rely on you for transportation arrangement, early movement of materials, liaison with the security, moving them in good time

    “At the RAC centres ensure adequate electricity to that they can recharge some of the equipment like the Bimodal Voters Authentication System (BVAS) and power bank so that on election day we can have a seamless exercise,” said the INEC boss.

    (Business Day)