Politics
Rerun Polls: INEC Yet To Begin Preparations
Barely three weeks to the
conclusion of the legislative re run elections in Rivers State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State is yet to begin preparations for the suspended polls.
Sources hinted The Tide on Wednesday at the state, headquarters of the commission that they were awaiting further directives from INEC’s national headquarters to commence preparations for the polls.
The INEC National Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu late last month after consultations announced July 30 for the conclusion of the suspended polls in Rivers and other states.
The Rivers State Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak had also met with security agencies, party leadership and stakeholders on the need to educate and enlighten their supporters on the importance of violence- free elections before the July 30 date was announced.
The Tide gathered that the commission has concluded some of its preparations for the polls, but has to wait till next week for the recruitment of Ad hoc workers for the polls.
Efforts to contact the REC, Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak was not fruitful as he was away and could not answer his calls.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the commission in Port Harcourt, Anthonia Amaimo said the commission was waiting for further directives from the headquarters to commence work.
Amaimo noted that all directives had to come from the headquarters even though the date for the elections has been announced.
The legislative rerun election would be conducted in the three senatorial districts in Rivers State but politicians and political parties complained that they were yet to know the details and polling units where the elections would be held.
Meanwhile, as the people of Kogi East senatorial district prepare for the senatorial re-run election next week Saturday, no fewer than 1,390 ad hoc staff will be involved in the election to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Samuel Usman, disclosed this last Wednesday, while briefing journalists on the commission’s preparations for re-run elections.
He noted that after due consultations with relevant stakeholders both at the state and national levels on the conditions precedent for the peaceful re-run election in the zone, and based on the outcome of these meetings/consultations, had scheduled July 23, 2016 for the conduct of the elections.
According to him, the local government areas involved in the senatorial re-run election are Ankpa,
Bassa, Dekina, Ibaji and Idah Others are Igalamela/Odolu, Ofu and Olamaboro.
He stressed that the state constituency re-run elections will be conducted in one polling unit out of 89 (PU 003) in Idah while in Ofu, election would be conducted in 79 polling units out of 129.
The REC assured the electorate that the lessons learnt from the previous exercises would be used in raising the bar during these elections, saying he would also continue to encourage participation in the electoral process as the present commission was poised to meet the global best practices.
He therefore warned that no permanent voters cards (PVCs), no voting, saying anybody who has no business with the process should steer clear from the polling and collation centres.
“Security agencies have collectively vowed to secure the election and would deal decisively with hoodlums who would disrupt the process,” he warned.
He therefore called for co-operation and appealed to members of the public should be highly informed to conduct themselves before, during and after the exercise and take precautions in order to avoid repetitions of violence and disruption of the electoral process.
The Tide source reports that Prof. Akinoso was elected alongside 38 other executive members of the party at the congress held on Saturday.
Other executive members are Dr Abiola Olaonipekun, who emerged as Secretary, Alhaja Latifah Latifu, Women Leader and Mr A. Adeleke, elected as Youth Leader.
It was learnt that the congress, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado in Ibadan, was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, other security agencies and prominent members of the party.
The election was supervised by electoral committee members, among whom were Prince Diran Odeyemi, who served as Chairman, Hon. Awoniyi Tolulope, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Queen Stepheine Oyechere, Alhaji Yusuf Abidakun, Mr Olumide Aguda and Dr Phillips Adeniyi, who served as Secretary.
Prof. Akinoso, in his inaugural address, urged members of the party to set aside intra-party differences.
He advised them to concentrate their resources on the promotion of the party, saying, “The primary responsibilities of party executive members are to coordinate party activities, ensure harmony among members, and ensure party victory during general elections.
“Our immediate assignments are to key into INEC released 2027 general election time-tables. As directed by the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, our party e-membership registration starts next week. We must be fully involved and do a membership drive.
“A political party is only relevant and benefits its members if it wins the election. This is our goal. We should set aside intra-party differences; concentrate our resources towards the promotion of the party. We will make necessary consultations and dialogue to actualise this”.
President Tinubu disclosed this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
He also disclosed that his administration had opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” President Tinubu said.
The ruling party said the ADC had turned criticism of the APC-led administration into its operating manifesto instead of presenting concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, the party dismissed the ADC’s interpretation of a report presented at a policy dialogue organised by Agora Policy which suggested that the country’s poverty rate had risen from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
Mr Morka said the opposition party’s reaction to the report as a “damning verdict” on the government’s economic policies reflected either ignorance of economic realities or deliberate political mischief.
“The African Democratic Congress’ attempt to spin a recent report presented at the Agora Policy dialogue indicating a rise of poverty rate of 63 per cent from 49 per cent as a damning verdict on this administration’s economic policies speaks either to its shocking ignorance of economic policy or its wilful blindness to the justification for, and transformative impacts of, ongoing economic reforms,” he said.
The APC spokesman noted that the report itself recognised the necessity of reforms aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
According to him, the ADC had failed to present any credible alternative policy direction for Nigerians.
“Clearly, the ADC does not recognise itself as a political party. The ADC has not articulated a single alternative policy position or prescription of benefit to Nigerians. Condemning the APC and its policies has become its operating manifesto,” Mr Morka said.
He explained that major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows, were necessary steps to rescue the country’s economy from collapse.
Mr Morka said the subsidy regime had for years placed a heavy burden on public finances, consuming trillions of naira annually while encouraging corruption, fuel smuggling and inefficiencies in the system.
He added that the reforms had helped redirect national resources to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that economic reforms often come with short-term hardship but stressed that the measures were essential to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
“Economic reform is never cost-free anywhere in the world. The transient hardship experienced by Nigerians was an inevitable cost of reforms meant to build and guarantee a better future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Morka maintained that the country’s economic outlook was already improving, citing recent growth figures and stronger external reserves.
“Our economy has rebounded and is expanding steadily. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to expand by 5.5 per cent this fiscal year, with foreign reserves now exceeding $50 billion,” he stated.
He also pointed to government initiatives designed to cushion the effects of economic adjustments on citizens, including cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.
Mr Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain focused on rebuilding the economy and expanding social investments to support vulnerable Nigerians.
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