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Tag: Election

  • Election Postponement May Affect Commencement Of 2023 Census – NPC

    Election Postponement May Affect Commencement Of 2023 Census – NPC

    The commencement of the 2023 national housing and population census earlier slated for March 29 is likely to be affected by the postponement of the governorship and state assembly elections.

    This is according to the Chairman of the National Population Commission, Mr Nasir Kwarra, who was speaking at a meeting with the resident representative of the United Nations Population Fund in Abuja.

    The state elections which were earlier scheduled to hold on March 11, have now been scheduled for March 18 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Although no specific date is fixed for the commencement of the exercise, Mr Kwarra told reporters that he will consult with President Muhammadu Buhari for a suitable date for the national census.

    On her part, the resident representative of the United Nations Population Fund, Ms Ulla Mueller, pledged the support of UNFPA in ensuring the success of the exercise.

    While reiterating the significance of the exercise to the attainment of the sustainable development goal, Mueller explained that the conduct of a post-enumeration survey will also give credibility to the census.

    In support of the post-enumeration survey, the UNFPA presented sixteen high-capacity computers for the conduct of the post-enumeration survey.

  • 2023: It’ll be difficult to rig election, Buhari assures

    2023: It’ll be difficult to rig election, Buhari assures

    The President stated this at State House, Abuja, while playing host to West African Elders Forum Pre-Election Mediation Mission, led by former Sierra Leonean President, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma.

    He restated that the 2023 general elections would be free, fair and credible, as manipulations would not be allowed in any form.

    “Thank you for accepting to do this service for our sub-region,” the President told his guests, citing off-season elections held in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States, as pointer to the fact that the Federal Government would allow people to choose leaders they want.

    “That right is guaranteed,” President Buhari said in a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina.

    “We are settling down, and making progress. People should vote whoever they want, in whatever party. We shall not allow anyone to use money and thugs to intimidate the people. Nigerians know better now, they are wiser, and know that it is better to dialogue than to carry weapons. Elections are even more difficult to rig now.”

    Former President Koroma, who led a team made of Fatoumata Tambajang, former Vice President of The Gambia, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, former Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations, and Ann Iyonu, Executive Director of Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, said they had met with stakeholders across the parties, civil society, and Independent National Electoral Commission, among others, “and we commend you for making it clear both locally and internationally that the elections would be free and fair.”

    He commended President Buhari for not listening to voices that might have tried to convince him to seek a third term in office, against the laws of the country, noting that “other countries look up to Nigeria for direction.”

    “When we had issues in Sierra Leone and Liberia, it was Nigeria that came in to stabilise the system,” the former President said.

    He urged President Buhari to look into other areas of concern as raised by the stakeholders, including security, and “issues that may cast doubts on the clarity and credibility of the elections.”

  • 2023 Elections: ECOWAS to adopt dialogue, mediation as tools to checkmate Election disputes and violence in Nigeria

    2023 Elections: ECOWAS to adopt dialogue, mediation as tools to checkmate Election disputes and violence in Nigeria

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    In the wake of elections in Nigeria , the Directorate of Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the ECOWAS Commission would commence training and interactive workshops on dialogue, and mediation for political actors and stakeholders on the 22nd of November 2022 in Lagos, Nigeria.

    The workshop is part of its strategic and operational support for the country’s peaceful 2023 General Elections, and a follow up to the ECOWAS’ October 23rd-November 12th, 2022 Pre-election Fact-Finding Mission to Nigeria which among others, assessed the level of preparation by relevant stakeholders for the forthcoming general elections while mapping out areas of potential support by ECOWAS.

    The workshop series, would hold in some selected states across the six geo-political zones of the country, targets the leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) among others and is aimed at strengthening their capacity to prevent and mitigate potential pre- and post-election-related disputes and violence, in order to ensure peaceful electoral outcomes.

    According to the Commission, the Workshop is being held against the backdrop that electoral contestations have become a major source of conflicts in West Africa, with potentials for violence, triggered or heightened by the high premium on political power and political discourse.

    The workshops will create opportunities for stakeholders to understand better, the ECOWAS normative principles and frameworks for democracy and good governance, sustain and enhance ECOWAS’ strategic engagement with the political process in Nigeria as well as its commitment and determination to promote dialogue and mediation in resolving electoral disputes and conflicts.

    It would be recalled that similar workshops were organized in the lead-up to the 2019 general elections in Nigeria and around the electoral processes of a number of other Member States.

    The training and interactive workshops are being supported with funding from the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark under the DANISH Africa Programme for Peace.

  • BREAKING: NJC Issues New Guidelines On Election Cases

    BREAKING: NJC Issues New Guidelines On Election Cases

    The National Judicial Council (NJC), has issued “Policy Directions” on political and election-related cases to heads of courts nationwide.

    This was disclosed to Channels Television on Wednesday by the NJC spokesperson, Soji Oye

    Details later…

  • APC Convention: I will Support Election of Credible Yout ― Buhari

    APC Convention: I will Support Election of Credible Yout ― Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday assured youths of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, that he is ready to support credible and committed ones among them to vie for elective positions during the party’s forthcoming national convention slated for February 26, 2022.

    The President has also directed his Chief of Staff (CoS), Professor Ibrahim Gambari and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha to ensure that experienced youngsters are appointed into federal boards that are yet to be constituted.

    This is as he urged the APC youth to work hard for the ruling party to retain the gubernatorial seats in Osun and Ekiti States later this year.

    President Buhari spoke while playing host to members of the APC National Youth Lobby Group at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He affirmed that the leadership of the party would ensure the full participation of young people at all levels.

    According to him: ”I will also support the aspirations of credible and committed young people who are vying for positions in the upcoming convention.

    ”It is also in our interest to ensure the longevity of our party by standardizing and institutionalizing the leadership recruitment system. Hardworking and exemplary individuals should be identified and encouraged and mentored.

    ”It should be a deliberate policy of the progressives in ensuring that we have a robust succession plan in place,” he said.

    Commending members of the APC National Youth Lobby group for the work they are doing for the party, the President said: ”You are not begging, but negotiating, staking a claim and seeking to add value, which is admirable.”

    He urged them to help the party achieve a successful Convention on February 26, 2022 and in subsequent elections in Ekiti and Osun States.

    President Buhari declared that APC must be made attractive for younger people to continuously take ownership of it because that is the future, and ”that is what progress means.”

  • Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo didn’t open a campaign office, we opened it for him – support group

    Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo didn’t open a campaign office, we opened it for him – support group

    A support group within the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, the Progressive Consolidation Group PCG has dismissed reports that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has opened a campaign office ahead of the 2923 Presidential Election.

    Publicity Secretary of the group, Barr. Emmanuel Pippa who disclosed this in a statement issued Sunday evening in Abuja said it was his group that opened a campaign office for the vice president, with the hope of getting him vie for the top job in the country.

    The statement reads; “Our attention has just been brought to online publications alleging that the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has opened a campaign office in Abuja ahead of the 2023 elections.

    “We wish to clarify that the said office belongs to our coalition of support groups which strongly believes in Professor Osinbajo as the leader Nigeria needs in 2023, and is determined to get him to declare an interest in running for the office of President as early as possible. Solely for this purpose, our recently acquired administrative office is located in the heart of Wuse area of Abuja.

    “Even though Professor Osinbajo is yet to be acquainted with our activities, we intend to operate through a new organ, The Progressive Project TPP to coordinate youth, women and other groups across the federation. Ours is therefore not a campaign office but a venue for coordination, handling of increasing volume of correspondence and meetings in readiness for the time when Vice President Yemi Osinbajo accedes to our request for him to run and consolidate gains made under President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Party chieftains will of course lead the real campaign when that time comes.
    Being a heartbeat away from the number one job, there are countless APC members and even, non-partisan citizens across the federation who are pushing for Professor Yemi Osinbajo to succeed or highly revered President Buhari, solely in the interest of the nation.

    “We are convinced that Osinbajo’s level of familiarity with the vision, achievements and challenges being handled by President Buhari is second to none, and that such insight would enable a new APC administration hit the ground running in 2023.

    “We anticipate that various new and existing pro-Osinbajo platforms will become part of the group to which their focus appears more relevant”.

  • INEC Vows To Conduct Anambra Gov Election Despite Attacks In South-East

    INEC Vows To Conduct Anambra Gov Election Despite Attacks In South-East

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has vowed to conduct the Anambra governorship election despite the recent attacks on its facilities in the region.

    The Anambra governorship election is scheduled to hold on November 6, 2021, but the South-East has been a hotbed of insecurity with gunmen attacking police facilities, burning INEC buildings, and destroying electoral materials.

    Despite this, the Commission said it is engaging relevant stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the violence and also proceed with the election.

    This was disclosed by the National Commissioner of the Commission, Adekunle Ogunmola after a strategic meeting in Lagos, on Monday.

    “For INEC, it won’t be a difficult thing to plan for the Anambra election. We have had similar incidents in the past, for example in Ondo State where some card readers were burnt, we were able to make amends and we conducted that election without any hitch,” Ogunmola said.

    He added that “As for Anambra, I can assure you that we will conduct that election without any problem.”

    Top officials INEC across the country had earlier gathered in Lagos to brainstorm on how to better conduct free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria.

    The electoral body said it is working on a strategic plan and strategic program of action for 2022-2026.

    It noted that the event is aimed at repairing and strategizing ahead of the forthcoming elections.

    INEC has been badly hit by issues of insecurity and violence and they hope they will be able to find solutions to some of the contemporary and nagging problems.

  • 2023: PDP Insists On Electronic Transmission Of Election Results

    2023: PDP Insists On Electronic Transmission Of Election Results

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no excuses not to use the electronic direct transmission of results in the 2023 general elections and other future polls.

    The party’s position is predicated on INEC’s announcement of its readiness to conduct online (electronic) registration of voters for future elections in the country.

    This was disclosed in a statement signed on Tuesday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan.

    According to the party, since INEC is in the position to deploy technology to conduct online registration of voters, which entails electronic transmission of voter’s data to its central server, the commission can also conduct an electronic transmission of results directly from the polling unit to its central server.

    “Our party calls the attention of the commission to the fact that it no longer has any excuse not to employ the direct transmission of results from polling units, which will ensure credible elections by eliminating manipulations, alterations, switching, and disappearance of election results during manual collation processes.

    “The PDP insists that if INEC can use the electronic platform for registration of voters it could as well deploys the same technology for electronic transmission of results in future elections including the 2023 general elections.

    “Our party however urges INEC to ensure that the online registration of voters is credible, transparent, and not open to the manipulations of desperate politicians, particularly in the All Progressives Congress (APC),” the statement read in part.

    The PDP also called on the APC leadership in the National Assembly not to delay the Electoral Act amendment bill.

  • Rivers LG Election: APC Excluded As Voting, Accreditation Begins

    Rivers LG Election: APC Excluded As Voting, Accreditation Begins

    Accreditation and voting have started in some polling units in the Rivers Local Government Election where seventeen political parties are contesting for positions.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) which is the 18th political party on the ballot is the only one not recognized.

    The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had initially listed 18 political parties for the election but the APC wrote to the commission that it would not be participating in the elections reducing the number of parties to 17.

    The party was included when a faction led by Senator Magnus Abe wrote to the state electoral umpire to participate in the election, but when the Supreme Court settled the party’s leadership crisis, recognizing the Chibuike Ameachi faction as the authentic leadership, the party then wrote to RSIEC to withdraw for the election.

    Meanwhile, security men have been deployed to strategic locations in the state, to mount roadblocks and enforce the State Government order on the restriction of movement till after the election at 5:00 pm.

    Earlier, Police authorities have deployed 17,500 officers to provide security before, during, and after the local government election in Rivers State.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Nnamdi Omoni, explained that the personnel would be supported by operatives to be deployed by other security agencies.

    According to him, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers, Eboka Friday, who is also the Chairman of Inter-Agency Consultative Forum on Election Security for the poll, has barred highly placed individuals, including politicians from going to the polling stations with their security aides.

    Omoni noted that the police would block all entry and exit points of Rivers and prevent movement of persons on both land and waterways within the state from Friday midnight till after the election.

    He appealed to the people of the state to cooperate with the police who have a duty to provide a conducive environment for everyone to exercise their right to vote and be voted for in a free, fair, and transparent manner.

  • Facebook Shuts Uganda Government Officials Accounts Ahead Of Election

    Facebook Shuts Uganda Government Officials Accounts Ahead Of Election

    Facebook has shut a slew of accounts belonging to Ugandan government officials accused of seeking to manipulate public debate ahead of elections Thursday, the internet giant told AFP on Monday.

    The East African nation is holding presidential and parliamentary elections after a tense and bloody campaign, with President Yoweri Museveni, 76, facing a stiff challenge from the pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, 38.

    “This month, we removed a network of accounts and pages in Uganda that engaged in CIB (Coordinated Inauthentic Behaviour) to target public debate ahead of the election,” Facebook’s head of communication for sub-Saharan Africa, Kezia Anim-Addo, said in an email.

    “They used fake and duplicate accounts to manage pages, comment on other people’s content, impersonate users, re-share posts in groups to make them appear more popular that they were.”

    Anim-Addo said the network was linked to the ministry of information and communications technology.

    “Given the impending election in Uganda, we moved quickly to investigate and take down this network.”

    Social media giants have come under increasing scrutiny over the content they allow to spread on their networks.

    Twitter, Instagram and Facebook blocked US President Donald Trump over incitement to violence after his supporters stormed the US Capitol last Wednesday, a move his backers see as an assault on free speech.

    Museveni’s senior press secretary Don Wanyama, who saw both his Facebook and Instagram account shut down, accused the company of seeking to influence the election.

    “Shame on the foreign forces that think they can aid and plant a puppet leadership on Uganda by disabling online accounts of (ruling party) NRM supporters,” he said on Twitter.

    “You won’t take away President Kaguta Museveni” he added, using the president’s second name.

    Museveni’s online account is still active but many government officials and members of the ruling party have seen their pages taken down, including a well-known blogger and Museveni supporter, a prominent doctor and a senior official in the information ministry.

    The president has long accused foreign organisations and elements of backing Wine in a bid to remove his government.