Politics

INEC Lobbies CSOs for CVR, PVC Collection in Edo, Ondo

Published

1 year ago

May 14, 2024

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu (right), exchanges pleasantries with the President, International Institute of Leadership and Governance, Dr Paddy Njoku, at the Commission's second regular consultative meeting with Civil Society Organisations, held on Tuesday 14th May 2024 at the Commission's headquarters, Abuja. PHOTO: DOMINIC JAMES

By Nathaniel Gana

14th May 2024

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has implored Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to support it in mobilising prospective registrants for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, scheduled to simultaneously commence in Edo and Ondo states on the 27^th May.

Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the call during the Commission’s Second Quarterly Consultative Meeting with members of the Civil Society Community, held at the INEC Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday 14^th May, 2024.

Only yesterday, the INEC Chairman announced the resumption of the CVR in Edo and Ondo States, to give room for prospective registrants and those who may wish to transfer their registrations, as well as people with cases of lost or defaced Permanent Voter Cards to get replacements.

Prof. Yakubu said: “The Commission appeals to CSOs to join us in mobilising prospective registrants for the exercise, particularly on the need to register early and not wait until the deadline approaches when the registration centres will be inundated by eleventh hour registrants.

“In addition to the registration of voters, the Commission will also make available the uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for collection during the CVR. In the coming days, the list of uncollected PVCs will be published in our offices in the two States and simultaneously uploaded to our website.

“We believe doing so will make it easier for voters to collect their PVCs. However, no PVCs will be collected by proxy. Registered voters should come in person to collect their cards. Again, we seek for the support of CSOs in encouraging voters to locate and pick up their PVCs as was done in the past.”

The INEC Chairman also urged the CSOs to submit their reports on the outcome of their monitoring of campaigns by political parties, while also appealing to them to also submit their applications for election observation early. He warned that the Commission will not entertain requests outside the deadline.

He said: “As we inch closer to Election Day in Edo State, it is also imperative to remind CSOs of the need to submit your applications for election observation in earnest along with the required supporting documents and a realistic number of individual observers.

“Doing so will enable the Commission to produce and deliver the identity cards for observers in good time. The Commission will not entertain requests outside the deadline for the receipt of applications from interested observer groups or process applications that do not meet the criteria.”

He added: “For emphasis, submission of reports from previous accreditation in the manner required by the Commission is mandatory for continuous participation in election observation. Since our last meeting two months ago, many accredited observers have submitted their reports but a few are yet to do so. We urge you to do the needful. Your reports are important for us in reviewing and improving our processes and procedures.”

Responding on behalf of the CSOs, the President, International Institute of Leadership and Governance, Dr. Paddy Njoku, appreciated the depth of information given on their responsibilities to the Commission and the electorate.

He said: “We also appreciate the fact that even though the Commission is independent, it is partially dependent on us for collaboration. We promise that we will fulfill all the demands placed on us and that this relationship will be strengthened and will continue to grow”.

Politics

Expose June 12 conspirators or face legal action – SERAP to Tinubu

Published

1 hour ago

June 16, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged President Bola Tinubu to back up his Democracy Day rhetoric with defensive action by addressing the lingering injustices in Nigeria’s democratic history, especially, the landmark June 12, 1993 presidential election.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday, signed by the group’s Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare.

SERAP urged President Tinubu to set up a presidential panel of inquiry to investigate the annulment of the election on June 12 and uncover those who are behind what is described as the “deliberate violations of Nigerians democratic freedoms.”

The organization stated that not minding the political position of individuals found responsible, they should be brought to justice through Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

SERAP also urged the president to instruct Fagbemi to urgently draft and present an executive bill to the National Assembly seeking to amend the Electoral Act 2022, specifically to make the electronic transmission of election results mandatory and grant all voters access to election documents.

The group argued that this would enhance electoral transparency, prevent manipulation, and help restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The organisation called on the president to immediately halt all prosecutions and drop charges against Nigerians currently detained or facing trial simply for exercising their rights to peaceful protest and free expression.

“Your Democracy Day speech conveyed a commitment to freedom, transparent and accountable governance, and social justice,” the letter stated.

“However, such commitments will ring hollow unless your government takes concrete action to end impunity for past violations, enforce electoral reforms, and guarantee democratic freedoms.”

SERAP emphasised that there is no statute of limitations on violations of democratic rights, and that achieving the ideals of June 12 is impossible without accountability and systemic reforms.

It warned that the failure to prosecute those responsible for the June 12 annulment has entrenched a culture of impunity, encouraging continued subversion of elections and political rights in Nigeria.

“Amending the Electoral Act to mandate electronic transmission of results and ensuring open access to electoral documents are essential to delivering credible elections,” the group stated. “It will also allow voters to verify the integrity of electoral outcomes.”

The organisation also demanded a review of laws undermining freedom of expression.

It asked the president to push for the repeal or amendment of repressive statutes, including the Cybercrimes Act and criminal defamation and falsehood laws in the Criminal and Penal Codes, which have been used to silence journalists, critics, and dissenters.

SERAP raised concern over the growing trend of strategic lawsuits against public participation, noting that the legal tactics, often backed by politicians and security agencies are being used to harass and intimidate Nigerians peacefully expressing their views.

“Your administration’s obligation under the Constitution, your oath of office, and Nigeria’s international human rights commitments requires you to dismantle structures of repression and safeguard democratic freedoms,” SERAP wrote.

The group gave the president a seven-day deadline to begin implementing its recommendations, failing which it vowed to initiate legal action to compel compliance in the public interest.

While acknowledging the president’s recent pledges to deepen democracy and expand civic space, SERAP insisted that only concrete reforms, not lofty speeches, can truly honour the legacy of June 12 and move Nigeria towards a just and free society.

Politics

Ekiti: PDP stakeholders vow to salvage party, win governorship election

Published

3 hours ago

June 16, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti North Senatorial District have resolved to commit themselves to the survival and the success of the party in the 2026 governorship election in the state.

The party stakeholders made the declaration on Wednesday at a stakeholders meeting held at Ido Ekiti, in Ido Osi LGA.

Speaking at the parley, the convener of the meeting and former PDP senatorial candidate in the 2023 National Assembly election, Mr. Funso Ayeni said he convened the party leaders in the senatorial district to talk to them and as well intimate them about the ongoings in the party.

“It is to also motivate them that they should go back home and remain strong as we prepare for elections to come.

“PDP is my party, the party is strong, and I believe at every point in time there should be unity of purpose. I believe there should be shared value.

“For us, the only thing we can give back to this party is to make sure that it doesn’t die, the party is alive in our present time.

“As you are aware, INEC has released the timetable for our election next year. Election is coming very soon, so as a party we must continue to come together, press together, and then ensure that we are ready for elections to come.

“This is where the majority of the vote is coming from in the next election. I believe this is the time to start mobilizing and galvanizing our people towards making their votes count.Their votes cannot count if you don’t talk to them. And we are talking to ourselves in preparation for that,” he said.

On challenges confronting the party at the national and the state levels, about five months to the governorship primaries, the PDP chieftain said, “So if I may ask, is there any party that has no internal challenges? There is none. So of course, we can talk about the degree of the challenges.

“I believe the National Working Committee is doing essentially what is required for us to be on the track again.

“I believe soon, the party will be able to overcome such internal challenges. There is a series of meetings going on, it is not about me. The party organ that is responsible for that is attending to it, I’m quite confident that all issues will be resolved. And in no distant time, the party will get its direction and then we’re able to face the election.”

On whether the party have any chance to dislodge the ruling APC, Ayeni said: “There is nobody that is happy about the ruling party at the moment, the entire nation is in disarray. Are we saying Ekiti is different from other people that are buying their petrol at how much they are buying it?

“Are we saying the roads in Ekiti are so beautiful now that everybody is happy? Are we saying the economic prosperity in Ekiti is something to write home about? If you believe that everything is not working, it’s as good as anybody in this government can be easily dislodged.

“What I’m saying now is that you have pushed people to the wall. People are not protesting, but they want to protest with their votes. The earlier they know that, the better. People want leadership that can actually manage the challenges that we have at hand. Hungry people on the street, roaming about the street, no work. How has the government been able to industrialize the state? How has the government been able to empower the youths? Our youths are riding okada, are we all happy with that? Those are the issues and they are going to manifest in the vote of the people come June 20, 2026.

“What you have also seen is that people are keeping quiet because the power belongs to them and the power indeed belongs to the people. And when it belongs to the people, they have the mandate to use, and they are going to use it when it comes to that election.

“This is not about me. I have the strong belief that the party that should even be worried now is the APC because they have not done well.

“When you see me now calling on my senatorial district to talk to people, it is to intimate them about the ongoings in the party. It is to also motivate them that they should go back home and remain strong as we prepare for elections to come.”

Politics

Rivers: You can’t join APC through backdoor, window – Okocha warns Fubara

Published

21 hours ago

June 15, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has cautioned the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara, on the possibility of defecting to the party.

Okocha said Fubara can’t join the APC through the back door, and must go through the laid down procedures.

Speaking yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, Okocha said Fubara must join the APC from the ward level.

He said, “Just like every other Nigerian, he is at liberty to join any political party. That is the law. But, I say anybody, not restricted to the governor, the suspended governor anyway, anybody who wants to join the APC should enter the party through the door, not through the window.

“You have to go to your ward to enroll because your name as a member of the party cannot be found at the national secretariat except it comes from your ward. That is the proper door, that is the proper process.”

Fubara is currently serving a six month suspension following a state of emergency declared in the state by President Bola Tinubu in March.

Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the State House of Assembly due to the political crisis in the state.

The President appointed a Sole Administrator to preside over the state during the period of his suspension.

The crisis began shortly after Fubara became governor, following a disagreement with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over the control of political resources in the state.

The crisis quickly degenerated into the bombing of the State House of Assembly and the sponsoring of the factionalization of the legislative arm in the state.

Despite Tinubu’s intervention for peace, the crisis persisted, and to prevent it from snowballing into a security outbreak, the President suspended the governor.

Since his suspension, Fubara has met with Tinubu and Wike in an effort to reconcile with all relevant stakeholders in the state.