News
INEC Targets Two Million Registered Voters In Ebonyi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says it is targeting to register at least two million voters in Ebonyi for the 2019 general elections.
The Ebonyi Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Godswill Obioma, disclosed this at a media lunch in Abakaliki.
Obioma explained that the voting strength of the state in the 2015 general election stood at 1,074,273, adding that the commission had strategised to beef up the voting population.
According to him, the commission has registered no fewer than 132,170 voters in 2017 and in the first quarter of 2018.
He stressed that the INEC had a task to achieve the two million target.
“Our overall target in Ebonyi is to have at least two million registered voters for the 2019 general elections.
“We will do this simply by adding up to the 2015 registered population. We have so far registered 132,170 voters in 2017 and in the first quarter of 2018.
“And what this translates to is that we have a deficit of 793,557 voters to register to achieve our two million target.
“What is needed is for all hands to be on the deck as we intensify our efforts to mobilise eligible voters not yet registered to go out and register.
“There is zero tolerance to double and underage registration, and registration can only take place in designated registration centres by INEC officials,” Obioma said.
The REC said that he had enjoyed the support of media practitioners since he assumed office nine months ago, and called for its sustenance.
He noted that the media have a critical role to play in enhancing the electoral process and in ensuring credible, free and fair elections through objective reportage.
“The role of the media in enhancing the electoral system and processes cannot be overemphasized, hence your collaboration and co-operation are very germane in our drive to conduct free, credible elections in Ebonyi in 2019.”
Obioma said that in order to mobilise more participation and ginger greater voter education awareness, especially for the on-going Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), the commission initiated community-based town hall meetings.
He said that voter education before his assumption of duty in Ebonyi was driven mainly by radio jingles and little attempts were made to carry the message to the doorsteps of the target audience.
He added that participants to the town hall meetings were drawn from various electoral stakeholders. Politicians, rural men and women, youths, students, traditional rulers, civil society organizations, physically challenged, among others.
“Most of you from your various media platforms participated and played very significant rules at these town halls meetings, which afforded the locals opportunity to interact with and seek clarifications from INEC on the CVR and elections generally.
“The town meetings offered direct access for the people to talk to the INEC officials about their observations, experiences, challenges and suggestions on what needs to be done to achieve better environment for electoral process in the state”.
He explained that more Direct Data Capturing Machine (DDCM), were introduced to create more access to the people to participate in the CVR as approved by the national headquarters.
“In order to boost voter registration and make the process more accessible, three DDCMs have been approved for each local government area.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.