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Group Urges Senate To Confirm INEC Commissioners, Pass Amended Electoral Act
The National Integration Forum (NIF) has urged the Senate to confirm the seven National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by Alhaji Aminu Alkali, Chairman of the NIF.
Alkali also called on the Senate to expedite action in finalising the Electoral Act amendment as part of its constitutional contribution to advancing democracy.
On December 14,2021, President Muhammadu Buhari wrote to the Senate, seeking for the conformation of the nominees.
The Electoral Act had been further amended to provide for alternative for the holding of primaries by political parties against the direct primary clause that had been contentious.
NIF, a political pressure group, stressed that the confirmation of commissioners was also more important as INEC and political parties were already gearing up for by-elections, some governorship elections as well as the February 2023 general election.
The nominees are May Agbamuche (Delta state) representing South-south; Mr Ukeagu Nnamdi (Abia state) representing South-east; rtd Maj.-Gen A. B Alkali, Adamawa, representing North-east and Rada Gumus (Bayelsa), also representing South-South.
Others are Mohammed Haruna (Niger state) representing North-central; Sam Olumekun (Ondo state) representing South-west and Mr. OlaniyiIjalaye (Ondo State, South West) as Resident Electoral Commissioner.
The group appealed to the Senate to see the immediate approval of the nominees as a national duty that should be devoid of political intrigues and nuances.
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), had also appealed to the National Assembly to confirm the appointees with the deserved urgency in view of the up-coming strategic elections.
IPAC was particularly excited over the nomination of Mr Kenneth Ukeagu, a staff of INEC with a wealth of experience, as National Commissioner.
The IPAC National Chairman, MrYabagi Sani, had observed that being a serving Director and with 35 years cognate experience, Ukeagu’s appointment will enhance smooth operations of the Commission.
Buttressing the import of the first-of-its-kind appointing an experienced INEC staff as a commissioner, the Chairman of the pressure group said the President Buhari ‘Hit the Bull’s eye’.
“Ukeagu’s appointment is unique being the first member of staff or an insider to be so appointed by any president; President Buhari needs to be commended for the innovation, sense of judgment, and the futuristic reforms in the commission.
“Aside being a round peg in a round hole, the appointment is an indication that hard work pays and it will usher in unfettered commitment that will boost the nascent democracy.
“This appointment is a further step taken to discourage corruption in electoral system as well as a step taken in the president’s usual manner of refining the system.’’
Also speaking with newsmen, Mr Hakim Afolabi of the Centre for Transparency and Accountability also commended the appointment of an insider.
“I appeal to the Senate to approve the nominees because of the immediate critical and substantial inputs they are to make into the electoral process.
“NASS should regard these appointments as dramatic injection of reforms and an encouragement that would give birth to a better tomorrow,” he said.
Also contributing, Mr Adebayo Owolabi, Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Initiative advised that the senate should display the needed urgency as usual in approving the appointments in order to save time as well as prevent political meddling,’’ advised.
”We are aware that the senate if aware that all the nominees are capable and will add value to the electoral system. The honourable senators should do the needful to avoid unnecessary turmoil,’’ he said.
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.