Politics

LG elections, mere coronation of ruling parties candidates – INEC chairman

Published

9 months ago

May 23, 2024

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has raised concerns about the conduct of local government elections in the country.

Yakubu described the elections as mere coronations of ruling party candidates, calling for significant reforms to ensure fair and credible elections.

The INEC chairman said this on Wednesday during a courtesy call by the executive members of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions.

He further criticised state governors for not allowing SIECs to operate independently.

He noted that many SIECs lack functional offices, permanent staff, and the security of tenure necessary to conduct free and fair elections.

“Realising our shared responsibility for the conduct of democratic elections in Nigeria and the challenges faced by SIECs in carrying out their mandates, INEC encouraged the establishment of FOSIECOM in a genuine effort to foster partnership for credible elections in Nigeria.

“Unfortunately, the conduct of local government elections in virtually all the states of the federation has become mere coronation of candidates of the ruling parties. It is time to stop the coronation and conduct proper elections.

“State governors should allow the SIECs to have greater capacity for independent action. Many of the SIECs have no functional offices in the Local Government Areas in their States and cannot recruit their permanent staff,” he said.

Mahmood lamented that in some states, these commissions were only constituted shortly before elections and dissolved immediately afterwards, with critical functions often taken over by government officials.

The chairman highlighted the severe underfunding of SIECs, which forces them to rely on INEC for basic election materials like ballot boxes and voting cubicles.

This dependency has led to confusion among the public, with many mistaking SIECs for INEC, he noted.

“In some states, the SIECs are either not properly constituted, have no security of tenure or their critical functions have been taken over by government officials. Some SIECs are only constituted on the eve of elections and dissolved thereafter.

“They are also severely under-resourced to the extent that some of them rely on INEC even for basic facilities such as ballot boxes and voting cubicles,” the chairman said.

Given INEC’s extensive responsibilities and limited federal budget, the chairman emphasised that INEC’s support to SIECs would be largely restricted to providing the voters’ register, as mandated by the Constitution.

He underscored that INEC cannot extend limitless support to other commissions for elections outside its mandate.

Yakubu noted, “Consequently, many Nigerians mistake the SIECs for INEC. Indeed, even some of the stakeholders, including candidates for Local Government elections, call them State INEC.

“This situation has forced us to reconsider some aspects of our relationship with the SIECs. Our support is now largely restricted to the voters’ register as provided by the Constitution.

“INEC cannot shoulder its extensive responsibilities and at the same time extend almost limitless support to other independent electoral commissions for elections outside our mandate across the country from our lean Federal budget.”

The chairman clarified the jurisdictional boundaries between INEC and SIECs, stating that while INEC was responsible for elections in the Federal Capital Territory, SIECs manage elections for 768 Local Government Chairmen and 8,747 Councillors across the country.

He pointed to the FCT elections conducted by INEC as a model for local covernment elections nationwide, noting improvements such as secure tenures for elected officials, regular elections, and diverse electoral outcomes.

No single party has ever dominated all constituencies in the Area Councils, he stated.

“INEC is not unaware of the ongoing discussions about the future of elections for the 774 Local Government Chairmen as well as Councillors representing the 8,809 electoral wards in Nigeria.

“However, under the extant law, the 36 SIECs are responsible for the election of 768 Local Government Chairmen and 8,747 Councillors, making a total of 9,515 constituencies. INEC conducts elections for the 68 constituencies in the FCT made up of six Area Council Chairmen and 62 Councillors, including bye-elections as they arise.

“It has been our earnest hope that the elections conducted by INEC in the FCT will provide a model for Local Government elections across the country. Despite the challenges encountered, there has been a progressive improvement in the conduct of the Area Council Elections in the FCT.

“There is security of tenure for Chairmen and Councillors which is now four years. There are no caretaker committees as elections are held regularly. There is plurality in electoral outcomes as no single party has ever won elections in all the constituencies in the Area Councils.

“Happily, the Electoral Act 2022 that now governs the conduct of national and Area Council elections also applies to Local Government elections nationwide. This has been made possible by the efforts of INEC arising from earlier discussions with FOSIECOM on the imperative of a model law to govern the conduct of Local Government elections across the country,” he added.

The INEC Chairman called on FOSIECOM to address the legal and financial challenges hindering their operations and to courageously protect the integrity and credibility of elections.

He stressed that true independence stems not only from statutory or financial provisions but also from the commitment to uphold democratic principles.

“I therefore appeal to FOSIECOM to take the bull by the horns. While there are legal and financial constraints to your operations, your independence does not necessarily draw from statutory or financial provisions alone.

“The courage with which you discharge your obligation to protect the integrity and credibility of elections is the most important determinant of success. There are no shortcuts to the discharge of this enormous responsibility.

“I want to reassure you that INEC will continue to work with you to push the boundaries of electoral reform. Working together, we should continue to explore all avenues under the law to improve the conduct of Local Government Elections in Nigeria.

“However, you should always bear in mind that INEC and other stakeholders can only help you, but there must be a determination on your part to do the needful,” he noted.

It was reported on May 13, 2024, a former member of the House of Representatives, called for the transfer of conduct of local government elections from State Electoral Commissions to INEC.

Onuigbo said if INEC conducts local government elections, it would minimise the manipulation of the process by governors.

Politics

Tinubu presides as APC national caucus holds meeting in Aso Rock

Published

21 hours ago

February 26, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

President Bola Tinubu is presiding over the National Caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking the first of such gathering since he assumed office on May 29, 2023.

The high-level meeting is holding at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja with key party leaders in attendance.

The Caucus meeting is preceding the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) scheduled to hold at the party secretariat at Wuse 2, Abuja, tomorrow.

The meeting commenced by 07:20pm with the arrival of the President, who is the leader of the ruling party.

Among those in attendance are Vice President Kashim Shettima; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje.

Ganduje was accompanied by nine other members of the National Working Committee (NWC), including the deputy national chairmen (North and South), national secretary, legal adviser, treasurer, organizing secretary, women leader, youth leader, and leader of persons living with disabilities.

Also present are APC Governors, Imo’s Hope Uzodinma, who serves as Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum.

Among the key issues on the agenda is the scheduling of a non-elective convention, in line with the party’s constitution.

The caucus is also expected to deliberate on the formation of party standing committees, a presentation on the establishment of The Progressive Institute (TPI), and the implementation of a membership e-registration exercise.

Additionally, the meeting will review a report from the national legal adviser concerning ongoing litigations involving the party in various courts.

Other attendees at the meeting include members of the Nigeria Governors Forum led by Governor of Lagos State,

Other Governors in attendance are Babajide Sanwoolu (Lagos); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Babagana Zulum (Borno); Uba Sani (Kaduna); Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto (Sokoto) and Hyacinth Alia (Benue) among others.

Also present are South-South leaders of the ruling party, led by Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Silva.

Notable leaders of the governing party from the northern present at the meeting include Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Former Governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al Makura and Senator Aliyu Wammako

Founding National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande; Chief Iyiola Omisore, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Senator Lola Ashiru and few others from South-West are also present.

Also at the maiden caucus meeting are the former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara; former Cross River Governor Ben Ayade and Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

Politics

Ex-Delta Reps member Ossai dumps PDP for APC

Published

4 days ago

February 23, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A former member of the House of Representatives from Delta State, Hon. Dr. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, has dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ossai, who represented the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency of Delta State for three consecutive terms from 2011 to 2023, cited the need to align with a party he believes is better positioned to serve his constituents, Delta State, and Nigeria as a whole.

During his tenure in the National Assembly, Ossai held key leadership positions, including Chairman of the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges in the 8th Assembly and Chairman of the House Committee on Treaties, Protocols, and Agreements in the 9th Assembly.

However, his political career faced a major setback when he was blocked from securing a return ticket in the 2022 PDP primary elections—an outcome he attributes to internal party politics allegedly driven by former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and other influential stakeholders.

In his resignation statement, Ossai expressed deep dissatisfaction with the direction of the PDP, describing it as “rudderless, cantankerous, envious, and lacking vision.”

He stated: “After deep reflection and wide consultations with my family, political leaders, supporters, and associates, I have decided to resign from the PDP and heed the patriotic call to join the largest progressive family in Africa, the APC.”

Ossai emphasised that his move was driven by a commitment to good governance and national development.

Politics

Wike excited as Orbih is re-elected PDP S/South Chairman

Published

4 days ago

February 22, 2025

Naijablitznews

The re-elected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-South Zonal Vice Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, has described the ongoing crisis within the party as self-inflicted.

He noted that the party’s constitution had been disregarded in favour of personal interests by a few members.

Speaking at the South-South Zonal Congress of the PDP in Calabar on Saturday, Orbih urged party faithful to make the necessary sacrifices to revive and strengthen the party.

He called for the election of officers who would uphold the party’s constitution in the zone, emphasising that such individuals must also have the fear of God.

Orbih said: “We must follow the party’s guidelines if we are to revive it. These guidelines are subject to the constitution.

“The power to elect new officers of the party is not subject to anything but the constitution.

“We must start rebuilding the party from here. The party cannot dictate who an individual should associate with, nor determine their friends or enemies.”

Similarly, Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, noted that, by all indications, the party remained strong in the zone.

He commended Orbih and his re-elected executive members for maintaining the party’s stability in spite of its challenges.

He, however, urged the party’s leadership to speak truth to power if it truly sought to regain its lost glory.

Wike added that the zonal congress held in Calabar would be the last to elect the Zonal Working Committee.

“Presently, we have leaders who can’t speak the truth and are full of betrayal.

“No part of the constitution says that congress should not be held when some persons are indisposed. No any other congress will hold after this.

“This is our job. This is our terrain. We are not new to this. The constitution didn’t say national working commitee shall conduct the zonal congress.

“This is the final congress in the South South. We don’t need quantity but quality,” he said.

In his address, former Governor of Cross River, Mr Donald Duke, urged PDP members in the zone to remain focused and fully committed to the party.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Orbih and all the immediate past zonal officers, who were elected four years ago in Port Harcourt, were re-elected during the congress in Calabar.

They were all returned unopposed, but an election was conducted to reaffirm their positions.

The zonal executive consists of 10 members, in addition to six ex-officio members.

The congress was attended by former governors, former and serving members of the National Assembly, among others.

GWG.ng however, reports that the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said the outcome of the Calabar purported congress was null and void.

Ologunagba said that the party NWC’s attention was drawn to a reported social gathering in Calabar, Cross River where the organisers falsely claimed same to be the PDP South South zonal congress .

He recalled that the NWC at its meeting on Thursday, in exercise of its powers under Section 29 (2)(b), pursuant to Section 31 (2) (c) and (j) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) postponed the conduct of the South South zonal congress from the earlier scheduled date of Feb. 22.

Ologunagba said that the postponement was to allow for further consultation on critical issues relating to the smooth conduct of the congress in the Zone.

He had earlier been tackled by Orbih who claimed that the NWC of which he is a member never met to give directives on the zonal congress.