Displaying items by tag: INEC

The Economist and Chief Executive Officer of CFG Advisory, Tilewa Adebajo stated that the issue of Census before an election year is very volatile.

Mr. Adebajo said this in an interview on CityTalks with Reuben Abati on City105.1 on Saturday.

The subject of Population Census has been a discourse since the last population and housing census in Nigeria took place in 2006.

When there was a clamour by some groups for Census to be conducted in 2018, the Speak of the 8^th National Assembly, Hon Yakubu Dogara, stated categorically that Census close to an election year, would make some politicians hijack the process that would determine the outcome of the results, rather than the actual figures.

In a recent development, Mr. Adebajo argues that the Population Census process in Nigeria has been politized and a lot of people has lost confidence in the system.

According to him, “If you try to do a census now, everybody is going to scream bloody murder, because they will feel that you are going to use the census result to try to influence the elections next year.”

He said, “the National Population Commission will tell you that they are ready to conduct a census, but there is no political will to go ahead to conduct the census because some people feel that it might not favour them.

With references from the amount of mobile telephone penetration, voter register, and National Identity Management system, mentioned by Mr. Adebanjo to give an overview of Nigeria population estimate; he said, “the amount of mobile telephone penetration could give an idea of what the population in Nigeria looks like.

“The National Identity Management System, again a lot of people do not have confidence in that system.

“The voter register; but over the last 15 years you will see a situation whereby the vote register has shifted from the large population from the Southwest to the North, which is currently the largest within the last 10 years.

“People are concerned about how this has been manipulated and if you don’t know your population, you can’t plan all the social infrastructure that a teaming population requires, you need to know the numbers so that you understand your demography, so that you can plan properly.

When fielded with questions concerning the launch by the President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, 3^rd February, 2022, on the Revised National Policy on Population for Sustainable Development, stressing the need for urgent measures to address Nigeria’s high fertility rate, through expanding access to modern contraceptive methods across the country and  the National Council on Population Management inaugurated by President Buhari, chaired by Mr. President, and the Vice President as the deputy chairman with Heads of relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies as members.

Mr. Adebajo replied: “The Nigeria population has become a liability.

“They have recognized those issues, they have brought it up, so it’s now a situation where we talk about policy flip-flops, and consistency in government.

“It is important that we do not only set up these policies, but it’s important that we are consistent with the policies. If we need to enact a legislation to back those policies let’s do but we can borrow some from the Chinese model and the Indian model.

“It’s not only important that we plan, but it is also important that we move ourselves from western conspiracies on Population control,” he said.

Mr. Adebajo further speaking, said that “The first step to put in place population control, we need to put in place a credible census for Nigeria.

“The strategy for one part of the country is different from another part of the country.

“You cannot manage what you cannot measure.”

Feedback during the interview via WhatsApp by Abdul Kayode from Ajangbadi in Lagos, he said, “a country without database of its citizens, should not bother to consider population control measures.

“For God’s sake, we don’t have a record of the numbers of people going and coming into the country through our land borders. How do you preach to a Hausa man who has four wives, not to produce kids?

Nigerian physician, politician and Presidential aspirant, Adedoyin Ajibike Okupe better known as Dr. Doyin Okupe, declared that he has been taught by two past presidents on how to be a President.

The cum politician made this know in a recent interview on CityTalks with Reuben Abati on City105.1 monitored by Abati media.

The former presidential spokesperson made his intention known to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in August 2021.

Other politicians on the list of the PDP who have expressed interest in the 2023 Presidential race are: Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, Former Senate President and Secretary to the Government, Senator Ayim Pius, Veteran Journalist and Publisher of the Ovation Magazine, Chief Dele Momodu, and Former President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Sam Ohuabunwa

According to Dr. Okupe, the race for the President is beyond brandishing of Curriculum Vitae when it comes to national politics.

“I have worked with two major Presidents (President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan) in this country, I have been with them in hard times and in good times, I have seen what their fears were and how things are done.    

“My situation is much better than those who came to gamble,” Dr Okupe said.

He stated that apart from Atiku Abubakar who was a former Vice President,” I am the most well positioned person to run the next administration after General Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.

In his view, “I have a lot of respect for Senator Anyim, he was a former secretary to government and I have the opportunity of working with him.

“Being a Senate President and a Secretary to the Government is far from being a President.

“Inspite of Ayim’s antecedents, I am still a better candidate than him,” Dr Okupe said.

He added, “there are different levels of government, the fact that you have occupied one does not mean you can do well in other areas.”

Dr Okupe blamed the failure of past Presidents in Nigeria on the lack of preparedness and he described the events where other people coerce others to vie for presidency as “idiotic.”

He alluded his interest to vie for the position of the President    on his preparedness and motivations.

His words: “I have done my research, I know where the government failed, I know the bottle neck, I have designed a roadmap.

“I have reached a point and I have reached an age that I can give my optimum best, particularly, to address the issue of poverty, the issue of insurgency and insecurity and to relieve the pain of the masses and those who are needy and poor.

“From day one; if sworn-in-as-Presidents, I will announce 10 ministers whose names are already on my mind.

“After the first Federal Executive Council meeting, I will announce the remaining ministers.”

The former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, says that President Muhammadu Buhari did not ask him to discard his political ambition.

He said this after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, on Monday.

The former Lagos State governor told reporters that becoming Nigeria’s president is his lifelong ambition.

The National leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says his visit to the Presidential Villa on Monday offered him the opportunity to formally inform President Muhammadu Buhari of his Presidential ambition in 2023.

When asked how the President responded to his declaration, Tinubu said, “He is a democrat. He didn’t ask me to stop, he didn’t ask me not to attempt and pursue my ambition. It is a lifelong ambition. You are running a democratic dispensation and you must adopt the principles and values and virtues of democracy.”

Tinubu said he’s qualified to make Nigeria better.

“I don’t want to discuss individuals now, I must discuss myself. I have the confidence, vision and capacity to build on the foundation of the President and turn Nigeria better. I have done that with commitment and yielding zeal in Lagos State.

“You have seen that experience and capacity to turn things around and that is also what we are doing. The confusion and drift of the past in PDP are being corrected as we are today. Going back to the data of how many barrels of oil we were producing when we took over and what we have today.

“You now see excellent infrastructure. Let us think back and be intellectually inquisitive as to the past and the present as well as what the future holds for Nigeria,” he added.

The former Lagos governor dodged the question of a potential race for the APC ticket between him and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, whose support groups have been mobilising for his candidacy.

The former governor of Lagos state, says there is no rule preventing a kingmaker from becoming king.

Tinubu played a role in the merger of different parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the subsequent emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari as the party’s candidate in 2015, thus earning him the moniker.

Fielding questions from reporters after meeting with Buhari at the presidential villa, Tinubu said he would pursue his ambition without the title of “kingmaker”.

“About the cap of kingmaker. I have never seen the cap of a kingmaker before,” he said.

“That is the truth and I have never seen where it is written in the rule book anywhere in any country that a kingmaker cannot be a king – unless you commit murder.

“So, whatever is your attribute [of me] is your own opinion. Me, I want to pursue my ambition without the title of a kingmaker. You can write your literature and story based on your own perception.”

Dr Amselm Onuorah, the spokes person for the Kwechiri N’Oganiru opined that the presence of security operatives deployed for the Anambra stand-alone guber election brought insecurities to prospective voters.

Dr Onuorah made this know as a guest on CityTalks with Reuben Abati on City 105.1 on Saturday.

The Anambra governorship election that was conducted on the 6^th November 2021 and supplementary election in Ihiala Local Government Area, in Anambra State on the 9^th November, 2021 generated a lot of apprehensions from many people.

Prior to the scheduled date for the Anambra gubernatorial election, there was a report on new media that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared a sit-at-home order in the South East between 5-10 November, 2021 which of cause falls within the date for the election.

However, the President of Nigeria and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari, had given clear directives to that effect, stating it clearly that whoever tries to disrupt the election will meet with the full weight of the Nigerian State.

According to the Office of the National Security Adviser, any non-state actor that tries to challenge the state's will be dealt with full force. According to the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The election was conducted in 21 Local Government Areas, over 5,000 polling units and 18 candidates of various political parties involved and also over 34, 500 personnel, 45 Commissioners of Police,48 ACPs, 2 DIGs, 5 AIGs, 3 Helicopters.  The Civil Defence Corps sent in over 20, 000 men.  The Department of State Security deployed its men and women. 

The spokesperson of the IPOB in a bulletin said that the sit-at-home order is cancelled and the group encouraged people to come out in their numbers to take part in the election.

In retrospect, Dr Onourah blamed the voters turn out on the humongous number of security personnel.

According to him, deploying such a number of personnel could have a negative impact in an election. “Some persons that didn’t come out may have thought that something may happen. However, their presence helped the atmosphere for those that came out,” he said.

Dr Onourah disagreed When fielded with the question by Dr Reuben Abati, if the presence of those personnel was there to justify the means to an end.

He said, “It is because of the failure of a system that accumulated to the event seen in Anambra.

“The federal government wanted the elections to hold to make a statement.

“The state didn’t want a state of emergency to be declared, so they have to deploy all that security apparatus to conduct an election in Anambra

“If the challenges in Anambra was handled before the election, it won’t be necessary to deploy all those security personnel.

“But at the end we had a peaceful election.”

A comment from Adeboyga Adedeji via whatsapp reads, “in as much as I want to congratulate Pro Charles Solution Soludo, for having the largest number of votes, I think we as a nation has not experienced what true democracy and democratic process entails. This idea of militarization of election, is another way of denying the right of the people in an election. Indirectly paving way for malpractices.”

Professor Charles Soludo, the Governor-elect of Anambra State, has termed his victory in the November 6 governorship election as a victory for the people.
Shortly after the Returning Officer for the election pronounced him the winner early on Wednesday morning, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) delivered a statement headlined "A Divine Journey Whose Time Has Come."

God, party members, supporters, INEC, security agencies, the presidency, and many others all played a role in not only guaranteeing his victory, but also in ensuring the election was held successfully despite the early anxieties and problems, according to his victory speech.

"There is enough room for everyone to contribute in the service of our motherland," Soludo stated in his victory address, adding, "That's the Anambra way!" Soludo extended a hand of fellowship to other candidates in the election, reminding them that the state is greater than them all. Let us maintain the "Anambra spirit" alive and well."

He emphasized that, despite initial technological hurdles, particularly with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), INEC should not abandon its efforts to implement technology in future elections, but rather improve them.

The Governor-elect also paid tribute to all those who died, particularly the three police officers who were killed by unknown gunmen during a town hall meeting with teenagers during his campaign.

Read complete text of his victory speech below: 

The run-up to this election and the election itself tested the resilience and integrity of our federal institutions. Many times there were tensions especially as one party boasted that it must “take” or “conquer” Anambra by all means.

“Our institutions proved again and again that this country can achieve eminent greatness when our institutions rise up to the occasion. The judiciary, led by the President of the Court of Appeal and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, stood for the integrity of the judiciary.

“We salute the eminent justices of the Anambra High court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court for standing up for justice. Your names will be written in gold. We thank President Buhari, the presidency, and our security agencies for ensuring a level playing field.

“We must particularly commend the Chairman, Management and staff of INEC for systematically striving to bequeath a legacy of free, fair and transparent electoral system to Nigeria. The use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) represents a massive improvement over the Card Reader and manual accreditation system.

Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has directed staff participating in the Anambra governorship election to ensure that all votes count.

Yakubu gave the directive on Friday in his message to the commission’s staff.

He said in spite of the challenging situation in the build-up to the election — including attacks on INEC facilities — the commission’s determination to ensure that the election holds as scheduled had remained unshaken.

He reminded the staff that over the next few days, all eyes would be on the commission.

He also said INEC had delivered all sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the election on schedule and deployed election duty staff.

Yakubu also explained that INEC has made logistics arrangements to move personnel and materials to thousands of locations in Anambra where voting and collation of results would take place.

“It is therefore imperative for all of you to ensure that every single vote counts,” he said.

“You must remain true to our commitment that only the voters in Anambra State determine who becomes the next Governor of the State.

“In doing so, you must be guided by the extant laws, our guidelines/regulations and good conscience. You should remain vigilant, principled and committed to the vision and mission of the Commission.”

He added that despite the challenges encountered, INEC had rebuilt its fixed assets and replaced movable facilities.

“We also sought and obtained the support of the security agencies, political parties and candidates and all other stakeholders for a successful exercise,” he said.

“As you are aware, Nigerians expect the Anambra Governorship election to be an improvement on the high standards achieved in recent elections.

That is why we introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for fingerprint and facial biometric authentication of voters. We have trained staff on the new technology.”

THECABLE

Senator Andy Uba said that he made Prof Charles Soludo Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

Senator Uba made this known during the Anambra gubernatorial debate on ARISE News Channel Supported by Enough-is-Enough.

Candidates who were present during the debate have already been cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including Mr Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), and Mr Valentine Ozigbo of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

This was not the first time Senator Uba has alluded such claims that he was instrumental to Prof Soludo’s emergence as the Governor of CBN during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo tenure.

He made similar remarks in Lagos whilst briefing journalist last week.

In a reaction from Prof Soludo, he raised a gray area about secondary status.

“when did you graduate from secondary,” Soludo threw jab.

“I graduated in 1974,” Uba responded.

Recall that Ubah was recently taken to court over a school diploma that he reportedly provided for the election.

According to a suit filed in the Federal High Court, Abuja, on October 8, 2021, with the case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1211/2021, Uba's Form EC9 to INEC was full of incorrect information.

The statement of result for the Senior School Certificate Examination May/June 1974 apparently issued by Union Secondary School, Awkunanaw, Enugu, Enugu State, under the Enugu State School System and allegedly bearing the name of Uba Emmanuel Nnamdi with Candidate Number 05465/089 is fraudulent.

The WAEC did not hold exams in 1974, when Uba graduated from secondary school, according to the report Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

In a rebuttal by Prof Soludo, "you cannot lie against someone who is alive.

He said, “I know Andy was a Masseur in the U.S.

“If throwing up my name gives Andy Uba a CV, then I will concede that to him.”

Uba in a reaction said, “When he (Soludo) became the CBN Governor, he came to my house to say thank you."

Kayode Ajulo, lawyer, politician and Civil rights activist is of the opinion that some states need that "declaration of emergency rule."

Ajulo made this know on Saturday as guest on CityTalks with Reuben Abati.

The Proposed state of emergency rule by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami have being criticized by the Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano and the Ohaneze Ndigbo.

Their arguments were referenced to the killings in Borno, Yobe, Plateau, Benue, Katsina, Niger and even in Kaduna State and yet elections were held in all those states and nobody contemplated a state of emergency in those states.

According to Ajulo’s views, “I’m sure that the legality of it is not the issue, What I think that everybody is concerned is the policalization of the issue of the state of emergency.

“The truth must be told, whether we like it or not, Nigeria is at war particularly some part of the nation is at war and declaring a state of emergency is very parity.”

The civil activist added, “I sympathize with them and I appreciate their sentiments particularly in the sense that Anambra state is not the only state in the federation where we are having insecurity challenges, the question today is that why should it be Anambra?”

Senator Musiliu Obanikoro is of the opinion that Nigerians need to cultivate the habit of a good loser when they lose election.

Senator Obanikoro who served as a Senator for Lagos state in 2003-2007, said this as a guest on City Talks with Reuben Abati on Saturday.

He stated that once a political party takes a decision, it behooves every member of that party to either reluctantly or otherwise support the position of the party as long as you are a loyal member of the party.

According to him, some people feels that once they did not win a Primary election, they can no longer participate in the process in the election.

Senator Obanikoro encourages viewers to participate in an election process so that they cannot complain afterwards.

When he was fielded questions about the low turn of voters, which was a big issue in the Lagos local government election conducted on the Saturday 24^th July, 2021 and was also an issue in the last local government election in Lagos State 4 years ago, Senator Obanikoro is of the view that the Voters apathy in the election were as a result certain factors, with reference to previous election, election held recently, even the one conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is declining.

He said that low vote turn out were as result of; i) Every one of us have become a government unto ourselves. ii) Economic hardship and the belief that an average person’s vote does not count.

Until we overcome these challenges, he said, “We will have difficulties having people participate in elections.

“When good people don’t come out to participate in an election, then definitely you may not get good people to run the affairs of the local government,” Senator Obanikoro said.

According to him, the effect of low voter’s turn will make people complain about the absence of the dividends of democracy.

He said, “We must find a way as a people through community engagement to get our people come out and appreciate the essence of local government administration.”

Reacting to the question raised by Dr Abati on the controversial issue on the plan by the National Assembly to increase election funding; for that of the Presidential aspirant to N15 billion, at the governorship level to N5billion and so on.

From Senator Obanikoro’s perspective, he said that the idea of commercializing elections is very unfortunate.

He said that when he joined politics in 1990 there about, that if such impediments were placed on his way, that he wouldn’t have gotten to where is now.

The Public Communication and business strategy consultant, Dr Okechukwu Ikechukwu has said that the disposition of the National Assembly will open a new vista of controversies that will call things up between now and 2023.

Dr Okechukwu said this on Saturday, as a guest on CityTalks with Reuben Abati.

Recall ahead of the 2019 general election the President refuse to assent to the electoral act amendment bill three times.

On the 16^th of July, Day 2 of the big issue about the electoral act amendment bill, Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, led the PDP caucus out of the chamber on Thursday afternoon.

Elumelu raised an objection on the decision to consider clause 52 alongside other clauses despite the fact that a decision had not be arrived at.

He argued that the opposition lawmakers would not sit and watch as their concerns were being ignored.

Dr Okey reacting to the melodrama characterized around the electoral amendment bill, described it as power-politics.

According to him, he listed three perspectives to it. Namely:

1. The reputation of the National Assembly
2. The electoral act as part of the crisis of the political leadership
3. The decision of the National Assembly and the impact.

He said, “The Primary issue on the table is that if anybody at any point was in doubt whether the Representatives are actually representing Nigerians, the conduct of the Senators cleared that doubt.

“Did the Senators consult their constituents, in order words, those who sent them to National Assembly, and can they therefore be said that they are saying what the people who sent them to say? The answer is no.

“The processes leading up to that decision, did it and does it suggest that there was some backroom scheming going on? The answer is yes.”

Dr Okechukwu opines that the disposition of the lawmakers on the electoral act amendment bill discredits the leadership of the National Assembly and also reveals that the lawmakers are primarily committed to whatever agreements they make in Abuja pertaining their political survival rather than the Nigerian States.

When fielded questions about the logic behind the vote by those who voted for or against, he said, “I believe that this decision of the National Assembly has only thrown open a new vista of perception and controversies that are likely to call a lot of things between now and 2023. Both for the ruling party and the political elite generally.

“The outcome of that voting, that decision of that bill is not attributed to any particular party it, cut across party lines.

“It tells you that there are some interests other than national interest, other than electoral purity, other than national service that is behind the content and form of the bill they passed.”

Dr okechukwu said that he shares the same view with persons saying that within the purview of section 78 of the 1999 constitution that what the national assembly is proposing is unconstitutional and illegal.