Politics
INEC Registers 2.3m Voters In Imo …Solicits Stakeholders’ Cooperation
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has solicited for full cooperation of various stakeholders involved in the electoral process in Imo State for a peaceful, free and fair election.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo Prof. Francis Ezeonu, made the appeal at a one day interactive meeting with election stakeholders in the state yesterday.
He noted that the commission had done all within its power in terms of preparation and strategic planning to ensure that the coming elections were free, fair and credible.
Ezeonu said that the commission had mapped out workable guidelines aimed at improving the electoral process and urged all to keep to the rules.
“It is exactly 22 days away from the start of the 2019 election. As part of ensuring inclusiveness in the exercise, we have continued to consult and interact with the different segments of the Nigerian society.
“As you can attest, the election exercise is on course and we have followed the timetable and schedule of activities religiously.
“Out of the 14 statutory activities in the election timetable released on Jan. 9, 2018, we have successfully executed 10.
“The journey to the polling booths starts with the possession of the permanent voters card (PVC).
“At the last count, we have over 2.272 million total registered voters in Imo State. Out of this number, 563,954 are yet to be collected.
“The commission in Imo has done all within its power to make sure those who are desirous collect their cards.
“The commission at different periods evolved initiatives to go to the autonomous communities, wards and local governments for PVC collection and distribution.
“We have retired to the local government offices from where we will continue with the PVC collection till February. 8. After February 8, the collection of PVCs will be suspended until after elections,” he said.
Ezeonu disclosed that the training of supervising presiding officers had started with other categories of election officials to follow immediately, adding that they were already taking delivery of non sensitive materials.
He reiterated the need for the use of Registration Area Camps (RACs) to facilitate the easy deployment of materials on the Election Day.
According to him, the electoral officers will in line with schedule of activities convene stakeholders forum at their respective LGAs next week and circulate the location of RACs in the areas to political parties and other stakeholders.
He said that following popular demand, INEC had relocated result collation centres from local government council halls to public buildings outside the local government premises.
“We have done this to ensure that participants are not at any stage impeded from participating or observing any stage of the process. We will soon be circulating the collation centres as already agreed by stakeholders.
“We urge every person to cooperate to ensure we have a most peaceful election in Imo State,” he said.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commission has instructed that telephones and other electronic devices capable of taking pictures be not allowed in voting cubicles while collation officers are not permitted to make or receive telephone calls during collation.
NAN also reports that to reduce to a manageable number the persons voting in any polling centre, the commission has introduced Voting Points (VPs) which will be created from polling units.
The participants, in their different contributions, commended INEC for the efforts put out so far for a peaceful, free, fair and credible election in the state.
They urged the commission to institute penalty for electoral process offenders and ensure it implemented all its guidelines for a free and fair election to the later.
The Chairman, Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (IACCE) ACP, W.T. Afolabi from Imo Police Command, who spoke on security arrangements noted that deployment of security personnel to election areas was ongoing.
He said the police and other sister security agencies had been sensitised on their role for a free, fair and unbiased election as well as on movement of election materials.
Afolabi promised adequate security on election days saying any officer involved in election malpractices would face the wrath of the law.
A Traditional Ruler in Nkwerrre LGA, Eze Emmanuel Uzoho, enjoined the commission to live up to expectation, as well as stipulate penalty for electoral offenders as deterrent to others.
The Chairman, Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) Mr Benneth Duru commended and expressed confidence in INEC for their determination to ensure that the election was free and credible in the state.
He said that there was need for the withdrawal of police orderly from the politicians alleging that politicians usually use their orderlies to harass and intimidate the electorate.
The Coordinator, Albino Foundation Imo Chapter, Pastor Victor Ibegbulem thanked the commission for the plan to create a separate line during voting for persons with disability.
He appealed that albinos be allowed to have a separate line inside the hall in the case of intense sunshine.
NAN reports that the stakeholders were drawn from the security personnel, Civil Society Groups, political parties, religious groups, traditional rulers and the media.
The event, jointly organised by LP and ADC to publicly acknowledge the movement of party members, was first scheduled to hold at the LP secretariat in Idimu.
However, chaos erupted when more than 100 suspected thugs reportedly stormed the premises, forcing party members and officials to flee.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers, some armed with knives, canes and other dangerous objects, assaulted individuals they encountered during the invasion.
The assailants were also heard chanting hostile slogans, declaring that LP and ADC were not welcome in Lagos State.
Several party members sustained injuries in the process, while party property, including furniture and flags, were vandalised.
Despite the disruption, officials of both parties quickly relocated the programme to an alternative venue, the Eco Centre Event Hall in Egbeda, in a bid to continue the ceremony.
Speaking on the incident, the LP Chairman in Alimosho, Mr Olanrewaju Olushola, popularly known as Heritage, condemned the attack, describing it as unprovoked and alarming, especially with the 2027 general elections approaching.
“What is most painful is that most of my members sustained varying degrees of wounds. This is in spite of the hoodlums going into our party secretariat in Alimosho and destroying our furniture and flags,” he said.
Mr Olushola clarified that the defection itself had already taken place, stressing that Saturday’s gathering was merely a symbolic ceremony to inform the public of their decision.
According to him, nearly all LP members in Alimosho, including the party’s leadership structure, had collectively agreed to move to the ADC.
Also speaking, the party’s Secretary in Alimosho, Mr Moses Akujuobi, explained that plans for an open defection ceremony had earlier been halted by the police, who cited the absence of formal approval.
He said the organisers had reached out to the Area M Commander, ACP Abaniwonda, who reportedly informed them that only the Commissioner of Police could authorise political events in the state.
“Incidentally, we could not reach the CP, but we informed the DSS, after which we went ahead since it wasn’t a rally but a quiet ceremony,” Mr Akujuobi said.
He added that the situation became more tense upon arrival at the initial venue.
“When we got to the venue this morning, we were shocked to see police vans with heavily armed policemen. They informed us that we cannot hold the event and referred us to the police commissioner.
“While we were at it, the hoodlums besieged the place and began to beat people, leading to our deserting the venue,” he explained.
Mr Akujuobi said party officials subsequently contacted members by phone to proceed to the second venue in Egbeda, where the programme resumed briefly.
“We, however, began to contact our members through phones to move to the second venue, which is the Eco Event Centre, and everyone witnessed what took place here.
“The hoodlums got wind of our second venue and equally attacked us, beating up our members again,” he added.
He noted that the decision to defect to the ADC was driven by internal leadership challenges within the Labour Party and protracted legal disputes affecting the party.
Shortly after the hoodlums vacated the second venue, several police vans carrying armed officers reportedly arrived at the location.
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has strongly rejected calls by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria seeking the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over comments he allegedly made on genocide.
The Fellowship described the demand as unjustified and a threat to constitutional freedoms.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, the PFN insisted that Prof Amupitan, like every Nigerian, has the constitutional right to express his views on matters of national concern, irrespective of the public office he occupies.
According to the PFN, the comments attributed to the INEC Chairman were made in his personal capacity and had no link whatsoever with his official responsibilities or electoral duties.
The Fellowship stressed that elections and electoral activities were not involved in the matter, arguing that there was no basis to connect the alleged comments to Prof Amupitan’s role as INEC Chairman.
“We strongly oppose such calls because Prof. Amupitan, as a Nigerian, has the right to make comments on what he observes to be happening in the nation, regardless of his appointment or assignment,” the statement read.
The PFN said it condemned “in every ramification” the suggestion that the INEC Chairman should be removed from office on the basis of his personal views, warning against attempts to punish public officials for expressing opinions outside the scope of their official duties.
The Tide source reports that the Fellowship also cautioned against what it described as a growing tendency to interpret national issues through religious lenses, noting that such an approach only deepens divisions and undermines peaceful coexistence.
“We must resist the temptation of profiling or judging people based on their religious beliefs or positions. Prof. Amupitan has a right to bear his mind, and this should not be at the cost of his job,” the PFN added.
The PFN called on all stakeholders to exercise restraint, understanding and mutual respect in national discourse, particularly on sensitive issues.
It emphasised that unity and peace must remain paramount in addressing national challenges.
The Fellowship reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, justice and mutual respect, urging that these values guide public engagement and responses to issues affecting the country.
In A Statement Issued On Saturday, Mr Obiorah Ifoh, The Factional Spokesperson, Described The Decision Of The Electoral Body As Strange.
Mr Ifoh Also Said The Sacked Factional Leadership Of The Party Will Protest The Action Of INEC.
Stating That Judgment Of The Court And The Decision Of INEC Will Not Stop Its Members From Putting Up A Strong Appearance In The Forthcoming 2027 General Election, Mr Ifoh Noted Legal Redress Would Be Sought By LP.
He Said, “Some Persons Who Are Applauding The Impunity By Some Politicians Should Retrace And Do Some Introspection, Because This Was How In The Past They Applauded Injustice In Our Democracy Because They Were Beneficiaries.
“At The End Of The Day, When Their Enthroned Leaders Began To Abuse Power, They Started Complaining.
“For Us In Labour Party, Our Faith Is Strong That The Appellate Court Will Do The Right Thing And Therefore We Advise Our Members To Remain Calm. We Will Continue With The Struggle To Take Our Party From The Godfather,” Mr Ifoh Said.
He Also Stated That The Labour Party Is A Party Formed On The Basis Of Social Democracy Where No One Man Is Permitted To Appoint Everybody.
According To Him, It Is Against The Party’s Principles For “One Man To Sit At A Place And Gather Everybody And Appoint Everybody From The National Working Committee To The State.
“That Is Impunity Of The Highest Order. This, I Believe, Negates The Principles Of The Party.
“If We Say There Is No Party Ideology In Nigeria, This Is How It Starts. We Are Very Sure That It Will Be Quashed On Appeal,” He Added.
Mr Ifoh Also Described The Celebration And Excitement Showcased By Senator Nenadi Usman And The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti As Temporary.
He Said Dr Otti, Senator Usman And Their Cohorts’ Names Which Were Already Listed On INEC’s Portal Will Be Short-Lived.
“It Is For A Short Time. Their Victory Is Pyrrhic And There Is Nothing To Celebrate Because Doomsday Is Closer Than They Will Imagine; Which I Believe Will Be Very Catastrophic For Them.
“Moreover, It Is Very Clear That The Appointment Of The Caretaker Committee Did Not Go Through The Normal Procedure. Proper Notice Was Not Given In Line With The Party Constitution And The Electoral Act,” He Said.