Politics
Periscoping 2020 (4)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in partnership with the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), on Thursday, September 3, 2020, organised a two-day capacity building workshop for electoral officers in Edo to ensure a credible governorship election on September 19.
The Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Johnson Alalibo, said in Benin that the event was organised towards achieving a free, fair and credible governorship election in the state.
The Centre for Liberty (CL) and the Society for Promotion of Better Rivers State (SPBRS) tasked the National Assembly to give priority to the speedy passage of the Electoral Reform Amendment in the hope that the bill would end electoral malpractices at polls.
The groups which made their position known on Friday, September 4, in Port Harcourt also issued the National Assembly December, 2020 deadline for the passage of the bill, nothing that its expedience would help INEC test run the Electoral Act in the 2021 Anambra State governorship election.
Project Leader of Centre for Liberty, Ariyo-Dare Atoye noted that the December, 2020 date was appropriate because the political climate was yet to be polarized by partisan politics.
Erstwhile Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, on Saturday, September 5, emerged the senatorial standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Bayelsa West Senatorial District by-election.
The former governor’s candidature was affirmed by all the delegates to the party primaries as he was unanimously returned unopposed as the sole candidate.
For the first time since he met the President of the United States, Donald Trump in Washington in April, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed on Tuesday, September 8, that Trump unequivocally accused him of killing Christians in Nigeria.
However, he said he defended himself, telling Trump that the conflict between farmers and herders in Nigeria was caused by cultural matters and not dictated by ethnic or religious factors.
Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolopkolo, Oba Ewuare II, called for the protection of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that were to be deplored as adhoc staff for the September 19 governorship election in Edo.
Oba Ewuare II made the call when the Director-General of the NYSC, Brig-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim paid him a courtesy visit on Thursday, September 10, in Benin City.
A clash of political thugs on Wednesday, September 9, at Alade Idanre in Idanre Local Government Area left one person dead.
With many others injured during the fracas, it was reported that the deceased, simply identified as Taye, was said to have been challenged by thugs alleged to be APC members for spotting a Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) fez cap.
Socio-Economic rights and Accountability Projects (SERAP) instituted a legal action against Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.
SERAP accused them of failing to publish reports of all completed public hearings and corruption probes by the National Assembly since 1999.
In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1065/2020 filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP sought an order of mandamus to compel Lawan and Gbajabiamila to release the findings.
The suit was sequel to SERAP’s Freedom of Information (FoI) requests dated July 25, 2020.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday, September 15, denied that he accused members of the National Assembly of fraud concerning contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Akpabio, had, during an investigative hearing at the House of Representatives claimed that 60 per cent of NDDC contracts went to the federal lawmakers.
However, as the House threatened to initiate a criminal complaint of perjury and explore the possibility of a civil defamation suit against him, Akpabio denied he ever referred to members of the 9th House of Representatives as beneficiaries of contracts in NDDC.
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum and Governor of sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal said that election rigging was akin to a coup d’etat, saying both deprive citizens of leaders of their choice.
Tambuwal who made the remark in a statement on Tuesday, September 15, while commemorating the 2020 International Day of Democracy, said it had become very imperative to strengthen the electoral process, so as to restore public confidence in the country\s democracy.
Elder statesman and play wright, Prof. Wole Soyinka said that the country was more divided as never before under the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Soyinka, in a statement signed from his autonomous residence in Ijegba, Idi-Aba Estate, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Tuesday, September 15, titled “Between Dividers-in-Chief and Dividers-in-law”, said though he was not a fan of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, he could not but embrace any accurate reading of this nation as a contraption teetering on the edge of total collapse.
The candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2019 Kogi State governorship election, Natasha Akpoti, lauded the United States of America for Slamming visa ban on those who allegedly rigged Kogi and Bayelsa elections. The United States, on Monday, September 14 said it had imposed visa restriction on some individuals if considered responsible for rigging during the Kogi and Bayelsa State governorship elections in 2019.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of the PDP came out victorious on Saturday, September 19, in the Edo State governorship election. He defeated his closest rival, Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polling a total of 307, 955 votes against APC’s 223, 619 votes.
The governor, in his appreciation message in Benin City, on Sunday, September 20, hailed President Muhammadu Buhari, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other stakeholders who participated in the conduct of the gubernatorial election for ensuring a free, peaceful and credible poll.
President Muhammadu Buhari commended the electoral process in Edo State which led to the victory of Governor Godwin Obsaseki as declared by INEC.
The president’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a tweet on Sunday, September 20, said Buhari also commended the people of Edo State, the political parties, candidates and security agencies for conducting themselves responsibly.
“My commitment to free and fair elections is firm because without free and fair elections, the foundation of our political and moral authority will be weak”, Buhari said.
Former National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said that the outcome of the Edo State governorship election should serve as a big lesson to the political leaders and political parties not to take the electorate and the people for granted.
Speaking shortly after the emergence of Governor Obaseki as winner of the poll, Oyegun, a former governor of Edo State, argued that the people had not only proven to be wiser than their leaders but were also ready to punish the leaders when they step out of line.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Tuesday, September 22, presented Certificate of Return (CoR) to the winner of Saturday, September 19 governorship election in Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and his running mate, Mr Philip Shaibu.
The ceremony took place at the collation centre, at the state headquarter of INEC in Benin City .
The Edo governorship election Returning Officer, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, had on Sunday, September 20, declared Obaseki of the PDP winner of the governorship election in the state.
Rim-Rukeh had declared Obaseki winner after polling 307,955 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Pastor Osagie-Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who garnered 223, 619 votes and 12 other candidates.
INEC National Commissioner in charge of Edo, Bayelsa and Rivers States, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, presented the certificates of return to the governor-elect and the deputy governor-elect.
Some members of the United Kingdom’s House of Lords, the upper legislative chamber, were reported to have petitioned the Commonwealth over the persistence of insurgency and farmer/herder crisis in Nigeria.
The lawmakers, in a letter dated September 14, 2020, addressed to the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, said failure of the Federal Government to protect Nigerians was a breach of its obligations under the Commonwealth Charter.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, on Thursday, September 24, shunned the Senate when summoned to brief lawmakers of 2020 Budget performance.
The minister’s refusal to appear before the Senator Barau Jibrin-led Senate Committee on Appropriation was the second time in two weeks.
The Federal Government, on Thursday, September 24, said the nation would mark its 60th Independence anniversary for one year in a low-key and staggered ways.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the disclosure in Abuja at a briefing by a three-man media sub-committee of the event, including the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq.
By: Opaka Dokubo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday told the National Assembly that it requires N873.78bn to conduct the 2027 general elections, even as it seeks N171bn to fund its operations in the 2026 fiscal year.
INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure while presenting the commission’s 2026 budget proposal and the projected cost for the 2027 general elections before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja.
According to Amupitan, the N873.78bn election budget covers the full conduct of national polls in 2027.
An additional N171bn is needed to support INEC’s routine activities in 2026, including bye-elections and off-season elections, the commission stated.
The INEC boss said the proposed election budget does not include a fresh request from the National Youth Service Corps seeking increased allowances for corps members engaged as ad-hoc staff during elections.
He explained that, although the details of specific line items were not exhaustively presented, the almost N1tn election budget is structured across five major components.
“N379.75bn is for operational costs, N92.32bn for administrative costs, N209.21bn for technological costs, N154.91bn for election capital costs and N42.61bn for miscellaneous expenses,” Amupitan said.
The INEC chief noted that the budget was prepared “in line with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the Commission to prepare its election budget at least one year before the general election.”
On the 2026 fiscal year, Amupitan disclosed that the Ministry of Finance provided an envelope of N140bn, stressing, however, that “INEC is proposing a total expenditure of N171bn.”
The breakdown includes N109bn for personnel costs, N18.7bn for overheads, N42.63bn for election-related activities and N1.4bn for capital expenditure.
He argued that the envelope budgeting system is not suitable for the Commission’s operations, noting that INEC’s activities often require urgent and flexible funding.
Amupitan also identified the lack of a dedicated communications network as a major operational challenge, adding that if the commission develops its own network infrastructure, Nigerians would be in a better position to hold it accountable for any technical glitches.
Speaking at the session, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) said external agencies should not dictate the budgeting framework for INEC, given the unique and sensitive nature of its mandate.
He advocated that the envelope budgeting model should be set aside.
He urged the National Assembly to work with INEC’s financial proposal to avoid future instances of possible underfunding.
In the same vein, a member of the House of Representatives from Edo State, Billy Osawaru, called for INEC’s budget to be placed on first-line charge as provided in the Constitution, with funds released in full and on time to enable the Commission to plan early enough for the 2027 general election.
The Joint Committee approved a motion recommending the one-time release of the Commission’s annual budget.
The committee also said it would consider the NYSC’s request for about N32bn to increase allowances for corps members to N125,000 each when engaged for election duties.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Simon Along, assured that the National Assembly would work closely with the Commission to ensure it receives the necessary support for the successful conduct of the 2027 general elections.
Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Bayo Balogun, also pledged legislative support, warning INEC to be careful about promises it might be unable to keep.
He recalled that during the 2023 general election, INEC made strong assurances about uploading results to the INEC Result Viewing portal, creating the impression that results could be monitored in real time.
“iREV was not even in the Electoral Act; it was only in INEC regulations. So, be careful how you make promises,” Balogun warned.
The N873.78bn proposed by INEC for next year’s general election is a significant increase from the N313.4bn released to the Commission by the Federal Government for the conduct of the 2023 general election.
In a timetable issued by its National Secretariat in Abuja and signed by the National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, the party said the activities were in line with provisions of its constitution guiding the election of party officials across all tiers.
According to the schedule, membership e-registration began on January 31 and ended on February 8, while notices of congresses were dispatched to state and Federal Capital Territory chapters on February 2.
Submission of nomination forms for ward and local government congresses closed on February 9, followed by screening and appeals between February 10 and February 14.
Ward congresses are fixed for February 18, with appeals the following day, while local government congresses will take place on February 21 and appeals on February 23.
At the state level, purchase of forms for state executive positions will run from February 22 to February 25, with screening set for February 27–28 and appeals from March 1–2. State congresses are scheduled for March 3, and appeals on March 4.
Activities leading to zonal congresses and the national convention include purchase and submission of forms between March 12 and March 16, inauguration of screening committees on March 23, and screening of aspirants on March 24. Zonal congresses across the six geo-political zones are slated for March 25, with appeals on March 26.
The party’s national convention will hold from March 27 to March 28.The APC also published fees for expression of interest and nomination forms across the different tiers.
At the ward level, expression of interest costs ?5,000, while nomination forms range from ?15,000 to ?20,000 depending on the position. For local government positions, nomination forms range from ?50,000 to ?100,000 after a ?10,000 expression-of-interest fee.
State executive positions attract ?50,000 for expression of interest, with nomination forms pegged at ?1 million for chairman and ?500,000 for other offices. Zonal offices require ?100,000 expression of interest and ?200,000 for nomination.
For national positions, the fees rise significantly, with expression of interest set at ?100,000. Nomination forms cost ?10 million for national chairman, ?7.5 million for deputy national chairmen and national secretary, ?5 million for other offices, and ?250,000 for National Executive Committee membership.
The party noted that female aspirants, youths and persons living with disabilities would pay only the expression-of-interest fee and 50 per cent of nomination costs. It also clarified that Ekiti, Osun, Rivers states and the FCT are excluded from ward, local government and state congresses, but will participate in electing delegates to the national convention.
Forms are to be completed online after payment verification, with payments directed to designated APC accounts at Zenith Bank and United Bank for Africa.
The congress cycle is expected to determine new party leadership structures ahead of future electoral activities.
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
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