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Edo Guber: INEC To Introduce New Innovation To Ensure Credible Poll – Professor Yakubu

Published

4 years ago

August 28, 2020

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said that in addition to the card reader authentication, it is going to deploy another innovation called the “Zip with Z-file.”

Professor Mammood Yakubu, INEC National Chairman made the disclosure in Benin City, capital of Edo State while addressing staff of the Commission.

He explained that the Zip with Z-file, is a tablet with a camera, which at the end of voting and sorting out of ballots, will take a picture and transmit same to a dedicated portal for everyone to view the polling unit result live and direct.

His words, ” The Z-file is a tablet with camera that captures the entire voting exercise in every polling unit. It function in such a way that at the end of the process after voting has been concluded and sorted out, the ballots counted, the picture of the form ECFA would be taken and transmitted to a dedicated porter so that Nigerians can view the polling unit results live and direct by those closed to the polling units.”

He said the innovation was deployed at the Nasarawa State Central Federal Constituency by-election, adding that before the declaration of results, Nigerans were able to view the few clean results of the polling units.

“It was a great enhancement of the previous elections and this is the major election after the Nasarawa state by-election, so Edo will set the pace for the conduct of other major by-elections and we look forward to a successful not transmission but availability of ECBA for public views on election day.”

The INEC boss admonished staff of the Commission on the need to be neutral in all their doings during the exercise stressing, “Neutrality and professionalism is very important as we are not supporting any political party or the candidate and we are not against any political party or the candidate either.

“Our concern is the intergrity and transparency of the process. The choice of who became the governor of Edo State is entirely in the hand of Edo people and we are going to protect the process”, he said.

stressing the importance of opening the polling unit early because the period of election has been adjusted in compliance with the the COVID-19 protocols.

He also told the staff the importance of opening the polling unit early, pointing out that he wants Nigerians to find officials and materials waiting for them and not the other way round hence since the issue of logistics have been addressed.

“We have adjust the opening time from 8am to 8:30; and the closing time from 2pm to 2:30 pm. I am confidence you will not let the commission down.

“We were here four years ago and the lesson we learnt is that we must be able to speed the process and declared the result on time because the longer it take the more it become problematic to manage it. So we must get logistics right”, he declared.

The other number of innovation, introduced by INEC, he said is the policy of conducting election under COVID-19 pandemic.

To address this, Prof. Yakubu said the Commission has made the wearing of mask compulsory and the use of hand sanitizers even as it has made provision for that.

Additionally, he said provisions have been made for infrared termometre at the collation centres and also working to extend it to polling units.

According to him, “Request had been made to the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 to avail the Commission about 3,000 infrared thermometer for polling units and voting points.

“But on our own we have made provision for 192 ward collation centres and when PTF is able to avail us, we will extend it to the collation centres in the 18 local government and state collation centre.

“You are required to manage the polling unit in a manner that we have not been doing before as the cubicle would be demarcated in a manner that will give two metres distance between voters since it is going to be accreditation and voting simultaneously.”

Earlier in his welcome address, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. John Alalibo Sinikem, said training of adhov staff, online application is still ongoing.

Noting the further their preparations for a credible election in the state, Dr. Sinikiem however, decried the budget cut for the election.

At the end of the meeting, there was tour of INEC offices and facilities in the state.

News

Moment Chief Defense Staff Hosts Prince Harry, Meghan Markle In Reception [VIDEO/PHOTOS]

Published

8 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Editor

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended a reception hosted by the Chief of Defense Staff.

This was after they attended a volleyball game earlier in the day.

During the reception, which held at the Armed Forces Officers Mess & Suites in Abuja, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex received asho oke gifts from Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).

The couple also danced with Dabiri-Erewa.

The purpose of the visit was to introduce the royal couple to Nigeria’s rich socio-cultural heritage and provide an opportunity for the Duchess of Sussex to explore her Nigerian lineage.

News

JUST IN: Again, Aircraft Skids Off Runway At Lagos Airport

Published

15 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Editor

Photo: file copy

Barely 16 days after Dana Air was shut down by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authorities, another aircraft belonging to XEJET Airlines also skidded off the runway and landed in the grass at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on Saturday.

Following this development, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has shut the 18/Left runway of the airport

The Airbus with registration 5N-BZZ with 52 passengers on board departed Abuja and landed in Lagos at 11.29 am.

Just last month, Dana MD-82 aircraft was involved in a skidding off of the runway, necessitating the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to order the suspension of the carrier for a comprehensive auditing.

Last year, in November, two aircraft from two different airlines skidded off the runway, in one week.

Aero Contractors, flight NG 119 with a registered Boeing 737 aircraft 5N-BYQ from Lagos to Abuja had a total of 133 passengers on board.

All passengers were safely evacuated through a controlled disembarkation.

The temporary closure of the runway by FAAN limits the airport to one single runway which is expected to lead to aircraft delays and landing.

The spokesperson of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Bimbo Olajide, confirmed that an aircraft belonging to Xejet Airlines skidded off the runway of the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport on Saturday.

She stated that a team had been deployed to the site of the incident.

“Our teams are there and on top of the matter. But whether or not the runway will be reopened today, i cannot immediately answer questions on that.” NSIB spokesperson told PUNCH Online.

News

Ededuna Obaseki’s Descendants Congratulate King Charles On Coronation Anniversary

Published

18 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Editor

The entire direct descendants of World War II Veteran and a recipient of World War II Medals of Honour, Capt. Ededuna Walter Obaseki, has congratulated His Majesty King Charles III on his first coronation anniversary.

A congratulatory message signed by Mercy Ededuna Obaseki on behalf of The descendants, and made available to INFO DAILY prayed God to bless the King with long life, honour, and good health.

“We wish His Majesty good health so that he can effectively pilot the affairs of The United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and The Realms of The Commonwealth,” the message added.

The descendants, while thanking the British government for preserving the records of their late father, urged the King of the Great Britain to “start soon, the Colonial Legacy review in Nigeria because it is so important to us.”

While approaching efforts being made by His Majesty to review Colonial Legacies, the descendants said in hearing the King’s move to review it, “our Joy knew no bounds, and this feeling of great Joy increased more abundantly when we saw that indeed he was already doing this.”

“We watched with great happiness and excitement, The King presenting replacement World War II Medals in Kenya to the Veterans of The Second World War.

“We hope the King will also take action soon in actualising and fulfilling our dreams that both the British and the Nigerian government meet our demands that our father’s entitlements and work benefits be paid to we his direct descendants. It is also our prayer that the King empowers and supports us in our quests and in the present circumstances that we are in right now, your quick help is highly solicited.

“Our father Ededuna Walter Obaseki was a captain of the British Merchant Navy, a World War II Veteran and a recipient of The World War II Campaigns and Gallantry Medals of Honour. The 1939-1945; Atlantic Star; Italy Star; British War Medals were
Awarded to our father Ededuna Walter Obaseki and other officers and Seamen of the British Merchant Navy by HRM King George VI.

“Obaseki was a pioneer industrialist, governor, prime minister and head of government, and he handled the British administration in Southern Nigeria that brought great success to Nigeria in many areas like modern agriculture, education, healthcare, and maritime Shipping. The forming, shaping and developing of the navies during the time of the boom that both countries enjoyed and its citizens can still speak well of in sheer glories of remarkable advancement today.

“We are aware of some attempts by the Federal Government of Nigeria particularly in 2014 to help bring out and make known, the legacies of those that played active and very important roles in making this country Nigeria to be great, especially the Merchant Navy Officers who were the first ambassadors, head of administration and head of the British Board of Trade that brought about very positive growth and boom in Nigeria through the exports of timber, rubber, cocoa and palm produce, etc.

“We also want the distinguished senators and honourable members of the House of Representatives of Nigeria to grant our request that our father’s entitlements and work benefits for service in Nigeria to be paid to us by the Nigerian government. We need them (The Law Makers) to use their voice to also make our demands from The British Government.”