Politics
Ekiti Election Characterised By Vote-buying, Daylight Robbery – IPAC
The Inter-Party Advisory Council on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the just concluded Ekiti State election, which it said, was a daylight robbery and a slap on democracy.
The council almost disclosed that its observation team witnessed a brazen act of vote-buying by agents of political parties while officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agents look the other way.
The concerns were raised by the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Yabagi Yusuf Sani, at the council’s national secretariat, Abuja on Wednesday.
Sani said, “Sadly, the election was a daylight robbery characterized by brazen and outrageous vote buying, sundry electoral malpractices and voter apathy thereby putting in question the legality of the process leading to declaration of Biodun Oyebanji, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress as the winner.
READ ALSO: Ekiti Election: British High Commission Reacts
“It is obvious that the voters who sold their ballots for a mess of electoral porridge have inadvertently mortgaged their future for the next four years by electing a leader who may not have necessarily been their choice if the election were to be devoid of obscene use of money to induce voters,” he said.
According to him, the ugly Ekiti episode has eroded the value of the hard work by INEC, which also has inadvertently affected the perception of the citizens as to the capacity of the commission to conduct and ensure credible election results.
The IPAC chairman also urged the commission to meticulously evaluate its performance in Ekiti with a view to improving in the forthcoming Osun State governorship election, adding every vote must count and be counted in the overall result without inducement of the electorate.
He noted that the council was initially optimistic that with improved technology, particularly the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System for verification, accreditation and confirmation of eligible voters, the gubernatorial election would be credible even with adequate security agents and operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at strategic locations in the State.
“Sadly, it didn’t turn out as expected. The IPAC is deeply saddened and worried about the ugly high incidence of vote-trading between electorates and political actors in open connivance with some security agents saddled with the responsibility of arresting and prosecuting electoral offenders and their sponsors.
READ ALSO: Ekiti Election: APC Mocks PDP For Dismal Performance
“This unfortunate vicious circle of electing leaders after inducement has been the bane of the nation’s democracy since Independence in 1960, particularly since the return of democracy in 1999.
“Election is the beauty of democracy, the ballot is sacrosanct and should not be traded on for any reason or for no reason whatsoever. The destinies of millions of fellow compatriots are at stake when the will and mandate of the people is brazenly stolen through vote-buying by political buccaneers masquerading as democrats with a mission to loot our common patrimony,” he said.
Politics
INEC Fixes Voter Registration Resumption Dates For Anambra Election, Nationwide
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will resume in Anambra on July 17 and nationwide on Aug. 18.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at the commission’s quarterly meeting with political parties on Thursday in Abuja.
Yakubu said that in view of the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra, the CVR exercise would be held at two levels.
He said the exercise would commence in the 326 wards across the state on July 8 and end on July 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, including the weekend.
READ ALSO: Anambra Governorship: INEC Publishes Final List, Announces Date For Campaign
“During the registration period, new voters as well as those who wish to transfer their registration to Anambra from other states of the federation or from one location to another within the state will have the opportunity to do so.
“Similarly, registered voters whose Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) were lost or damaged will have the opportunity to apply for replacement.
“Uncollected PVCs from previous registrations will also be available for collection at the registration centres.
“Interested eligible Nigerian citizens are encouraged to appear in person to register,” he said.
The INEC chairman, however, explained that the online pre-registration option is currently unavailable.
READ ALSO: INEC Releases Details Of 16 Anambra Guber Candidates
Yakubu added that voter registration and compilation of the voters’ register must be completed not later than 90 days before the date fixed for the election as provided by law.
“For the nationwide CVR, the commission has approved resumption of the online and in-person registration of voters in all states of the federation.
“The online pre-registration will start on Aug. 18, while the in-person registration will follow on Aug. 25.
“The exercise will be held simultaneously in all states and the FCT as well as the 774 Local Government Area offices nationwide,” he said.
Yakubu said the detailed schedule of activities would be released soon.
(NAN)
Politics
2027: Drama As Two ‘ADA’ Emerge In INEC’s List Of 110 Party Registration Bids
Two political associations seeking registration as political parties have submitted identical acronyms to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
According to Vanguard, the first is the All Democratic Alliance, ADA, being promoted by Chief Akin Ricketts and said to be one of the special purpose vehicles that the anti-Tinubu coalition is seeking to use as a platform in the 2027 general election.
While the Ricketts ADA is 109 on the INEC list, the other ADA, Advanced Democratic Alliance, is 110, the last one the list unveiled by the electoral umpire.
This second ADA has Alhaji Ahmadu Suleiman as Protem Chairman and Zipporah Pius Miracles as Secretary.
READ ALSO: Atiku, El-Rufai Coalition Seeks INEC Registration For New Party
The Ricketts ADA has its national headquarters at Ground Floor, UAC Complex, Plot 273 Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun Street, CBD, Abuja, FCT.
Suleiman’s ADA has its national headquarters at 1 Frandriance Close, Off Oda Crescent, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, no fewer than 110 political associations have written to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, seeking registration as political parties.
Politics
Damagum Is PDP’s Problem – Ex-Benue Gov Suswam
Former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, on Wednesday declared that the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Umar Damagum, is the problem of the party.
Suswam, who insisted that Damagum is not a leader, said the party has been drifting downwards since he assumed the role of acting National Chairman.
Featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the former governor said, “There is no integrity in the leadership of PDP, I’m happy that Wike said it.
READ ALSO::
“I have consistently said that Damagum is not a leader. What has happened here is that after the meeting with INEC, a good leader would have met with the National Working Committee members to brief them before holding any press conference.
“Damagum has been the problem of the PDP since he assumed the acting National Chairman of the party. The party has been drifting downward, I have said this thing consistently.
“First and foremost, he breached the provisions of the constitution which said that he must act for a period and this position must go back to the North Central.”
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