INEC A PROBLEM TO A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IN NIGERIA

 

INEC A PROBLEM TO A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IN NIGERIA 

By Hope Enogieru 

The recent governorship election in Edo State on September 21st, 2024, has raised serious concerns about the integrity of Nigeria's electoral process. Allegations of fraudulent declaration of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in favor of the all progressive congress(APC), despite reportedly not scoring high in the electoral process, have cast a dark shadow over the democratic institutions of Nigeria.

This development has sparked widespread outrage and skepticism among Nigerians, with many questioning the credibility of INEC and the entire electoral system ¹. The issue at hand is not just about the outcome of one election but about the very foundation of Nigeria's democracy.

*The Role of INEC*

INEC, established by the 1999 Constitution, is responsible for organizing elections into various political offices in Nigeria ¹. Its primary function is to ensure free, fair, and credible elections. However, the recent allegations of fraudulent activities have compromised public trust in the commission.

*Eroding Public Trust*

The perceived bias and incompetence displayed by INEC in the Edo State governorship election have far-reaching implications for Nigeria's democratic future. If left unchecked, this trend may dissuade citizens from participating in future elections, undermine the legitimacy of elected officials, and create social unrest.

*A Call to Action*

To restore public trust and ensure the integrity of Nigeria's electoral process, INEC must:

- _Conduct thorough investigations_ into the allegations of electoral malpractices.

- _Implement reforms_ to prevent similar occurrences in future elections.

- _Ensure transparency_ in its decision-making processes.

Nigerians must demand accountability from INEC and advocate for electoral reforms to safeguard the country's democratic institutions. The international community should also provide support and guidance to help Nigeria strengthen its electoral process.

Only through collective action can Nigeria overcome this challenge and build a stronger, more resilient democracy.

Double Wahala for Dead Body, PDP suspends Mr Saraki's ally Kamaldeen Ajibade as National Legal Adviser*

 

Press Statement

PDP National Working Committee (NWC) Directs NPS and NLA to Step Aside …Constitutes Investigation Committee

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) arising from its 593rd Meeting today, Thurday, October 10, 2024, has directed the National Publicity Secretary (NPS), Hon Debo Ologunagba  and National Legal Adviser (NLA), Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN, to step aside, respectively.

As a result, the NWC constituted a committee to be chaired by the Deputy National Chairman (South) H.E. Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, to investigate the issues raised against the officers in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Party.

Following the NWC’s Decision, it directed their respective deputies (DNPS and DNLA) to assume office in acting capacity with effect from Friday, October 11, 2024, pending the conclusion of investigation by the Committee. The officers are: 

Ibrahim Abdullahi Manga, Esq, Acting National Publicity Secretary and Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha, Acting National Legal Adviser

The NWC enjoins all leaders, critical stakeholders, teeming members and supporters of our great Party to remain focused and committed as it pilots the day-to-day affairs of the PDP for its greater good.

Signed:

Adm. Chinwe I. Nnorom (Pst.)

National Director of  Publicty.

for: The NWC

10.10.24

Obaseki approves payment of gratuity to pensioners who retired in 2011*

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has approved the payment of gratuity to the pensioners on the payroll of the Local Government Staff Pension Board who retired in 2011.

In a statement, the Commissioner for Ministry of Local Government, Community & Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Monday E. O. Osaigbovo, said the governor has directed the State Pension Bureau to immediately commence the screening and payment of gratuity to Pensioners who retired in 2011.

In August 2024, Governor Obaseki had approved the payment of gratuity to the pensioners on the payroll of the Local Government Staff Pension Board who retired in 2010.

According to the Commissioner, “This is to inform the general public, especially Local Government Pensioners that his Excellency, the Executive Governor of Edo State, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki has approved the payment of gratuity to pensioners who retired in 2011.

Osaigbovo further stated, “By this directive, the Pension Bureau and 2011 retired Local Government Pensioners should take note.”

BREAKING NEWS* : Comrade Bayode choice escapes APC lions and tigers attack in INEC office , Benin city .

 

*By Comrade Abu Godwin.*

In line with the court order to inspect the just concluded Edo state governorship Election results BVAS  in INEC headquarters  Benin city. A popular social media influencer, Edo state social media force President and lovers of democracy *Comrade Bayode choice* was in early hour today in INEC office to witness the process . 

After the attack of the APC Thugs led by Nomolest towards the PDP Youths who were gathered in their small numbers, comrade Bayode choice decided to go home after realizes the level of intimidation by the APC Thugs which could lead to killings.

comrade Bayode choice decided to go home from the environment since no PDP supporter or even party leaders was present .

Leaving the environment , Comrade Bayode choice boarded a taxi to fine his peaceful way to his home when APC thugs in their hundreds with a loud voice shouting 'this man na PDP media corespondent, he came here to capture and record us. when trying to attack him with various items, comrade Bayode choice quickly ran to coin oil fuel station behind INEC office to secure prevention from the police and army who later confronted the arm boys or thugs to stop the balderdash. 

If not for the security agency and the entire management of coin oil fuel station behind INEC office who run out in Mass to rescue our beloved brother . The story will have be a different one . But all thanks to God almighty.

But if I may ask; do we really need all this intimidation? the answer is NO. 

If the governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki didn’t take a drastic action to end this menace as number one citizen of the state there wouldn’t be need of hoping for the recovery of the stolen mandate. 

I was expecting that the PDP will mobilize in their thousands to face those enemy of democracy, which would have created a sense of belonging among them to shun their actions. 

Many would have thought he was right for not mobilizing youths to counter them in action as regarding their plans to burn down the Inec office but truth be told, they couldn’t have done anything of such because of the overwhelming force that would have befall them to escape from the premises to save their lives . 

We should not forget what happened in 2015 at the court of tribunal premises where Tony Kabaka and his boys stabbed many of PDP Youth to almost death. If we keep quite now and  acted later, it maybe too late for us.

I urge the governor of Edo state to take action that will put an end to this unnecessary delay by the APC  Thugs to frustrate our petition on a ground of lacking of merit . 

I’m so surprised that the APC are playing a fast politics on us as PDP . I never expected that this matter would have degenerated to this level before our action.

*PDP, Iduoriyekemwen accuses APC of stalling inspection of BVAS, electoral materials*

 

*PDP, Iduoriyekemwen accuses APC of stalling inspection of BVAS, electoral materials*

_...vows to storm INEC Office tomorrow_

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of deliberately stalling the inspection of the BVAS and other election materials for the September 21 Edo governorship election. 

Recall that INEC had release a circular yesterday October 8, 2024, calling on political parties to send their representatives for inspection.

As a matter of fact, the INEC REC, Edo State, Anugbum Onuoha, in the publication said, "I wish to inform the public that the inspection of the election materials, including the BVAS devices, has been formally scheduled to take place tomorrow (Wednesday October 9, 2024), at 10:00am, at the INEC headquarters in Edo State; all political parties and their representatives are invited to participate in the exercise, as per the legal procedures, to ensure transparency and the rule of law."

Getting there on Wednesday, armed thugs of the APC extraction, numbering over five hundred (500), including the Party's State Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, has barricaded the INEC premises, preventing the PDP/Asue-Ogie lawyers and other Party representatives from carrying out their lawful duty. 

Tenebe, who spoke on behalf of the APC, noted that they did not have the register of their Party and so could not depend on the register from INEC to start the process; considering the other unfounded excuses as given by the APC, one could deduce that the Party is unprepared for the inspection, hence doing all it can to stall or delay the process. 

Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday, Director General of the PDP/Asue-Ogie Campaign Council, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, condemned the action of the APC and called on security agencies to intervene as he and other Party stalwarts will be at the INEC office tomorrow (Thursday October 10, 2024) to personally witness the inspection exercise. 

"We are aware of clandestine plans by the APC to stall the inspection process; having secured a court order to inspect the BVAS and other election materials, we should not naturally face any resistant from the opposition APC; their action today however, suggests the Party is unwilling to respect court order, we shall all be there tomorrow, to ensure the smooth facilitation of the process, I call on the Police, DSS and other security agencies in the State to intervene so as to prevent a break of law and order."

"The APC if truly they won the September 21 Edo governorship election should confidently chest out to show forth their victory, stalling the inspection of the BVAS and other materials for the poll suggests a foul play and that will be unfolded tomorrow", Iduoriyekemwen added.

Stop using thugs to attack, intimidate INEC officials, PDP lawyers*

 

October 8, 2024

*Stop using thugs to attack, intimidate INEC officials, PDP lawyers*

We express deep concerns over the recent attack on the Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State by thugs and members of the State’s Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Hon. Dennis Idahosa, the deputy Governor-elect.

We condemn in the strongest terms attempts by the APC to obstruct justice and frustrate the efforts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to regain its mandate stolen during the September 21 governorship election, by intimidating INEC officials into frustrating the PDP from accessing the BIVAS (Bimodal Voter Authentication System) machines and other materials to flesh up its petition against the September 21 electoral robbery.

To say the least, this is most troubling, shameful and reprehensible in the light of the wider ramifications of the action of these thugs.

It’s quite appalling that PDP lawyers who went to the INEC Office were prevented access despite presenting a court order to that effect.

Infact, the Edo Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) refused to grant the team audience, true to form of someone who is in connivance with the APC.

The INEC official who anonymously spoke to them after several hours of unnecessary delays and tossing around, claimed they were awaiting permission from the INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu who we are aware is out of the country.

We are in the know that the clandestine and surreptitious game plan is to frustrate the PDP appeal and ensure the petition is not filed before the Saturday deadline.

This is a great threat to our democracy and we call on civil society organizations, international observers, and other stakeholders to keep an eye on Edo to stop this resort to intimidation and harassment by the APC to derail the will of the people.

We have also been reliably informed of plans by the APC to burn the INEC office so as to destroy the BVAS machines and other electoral materials in an attempt to eliminate evidence of their electoral fraud which took place on September 21 in Edo State.

We want to call on the police to take charge of this facility to prevent the planned attack and destruction and also ensure enforcement of the court order. 

While we urge the APC to refrain this resort to intimidation in their desperate move to cover their ignoble actions during the election, we want to restate that we would not relent in exposing the electoral theft and regaining the mandate that was duly given to the PDP by the majority of Edo people.

Signed 

Chris Osa Nehikhare 

HC Communication&Orientation

The Edo Election Petition Tribunal granted the request of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, to inspect all election materials used in the September 21 governorship election.*

 *The Edo Election Petition Tribunal granted the request of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, to inspect all election materials used in the September 21 governorship election.* 

The order was issued on Monday by the tribunal’s Chairman, Justice W.I. Kpochi, following an ex-parte motion filed by Ighodalo and the party.

The ex-parte motion, dated September 27, was submitted by Rotimi O. Ogunseso, SAN, with Seun Olusuyi serving as counsel for the applicants. The petition included affidavits sworn by Osasere Adagbonyin. PDP

In the ruling, the tribunal granted all the petitioners’ requests. A Certified True Copy of the order, signed by the tribunal’s Secretary, Mauzu Ibrahim, instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to produce and provide all materials used during the election.

The tribunal specifically ordered the release of various forms, including EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E, EC25B, and EC25B(i), among others.

Additionally, forms EC40A, EC40C, EC40G, and EC40G(i) related to the gubernatorial election were included in the order.

The court also mandated INEC to supply polling unit results, including the Forms EC8A uploaded to its IREV portal, the list of accredited agents for all participating political parties, the voters’ register for each polling unit, and the total number of BVAS machines deployed, along with their serial numbers matched to specific polling units.

Further, the tribunal required the production of statements and reports on the number of accredited voters recorded and extracted directly from the BVAS machines at all polling units.

It also ordered INEC to provide records of polling units where election results were not uploaded to the INEC IREV portal as of September 22, the day results were announced.

Additionally, the tribunal directed that records regarding the posting of INEC ad hoc staff for the 4,519 polling units, as well as the number of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected in each polling unit, be made available to the applicants.

Speaking to reporters at the INEC office in Benin, Olusegun Jolaawo, SAN, stated that they were present to follow up on the court’s order and to facilitate the inspection of electoral materials.

Jolaawo emphasized, “We came here today in furtherance of the tribunal order we obtained on September 29, 2024, to gather materials that will strengthen our petition.”

“Now, when we got here today, we were not able to get audience with the REC but we were able to see the head of legal unit, who told us that they were preparing a schedule for our inspection.

“The risk involved is obvious to everybody, and the time expires on Saturday for us to file our petition and today is Monday, ” he said.