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Political Parties Must Submit Regular Audit Reports To INEC -CSO
The Electoral Forum, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to compel political parties to present regular audit reports of their accounts, in line with the provisions of the law.
This is contained in a communiqué issued and signed by Prof. Adebayo Olukoshi, the Chairman, The Electoral Forum, at the end of the 7th Technical Session of the organization on Thursday in Abuja.
Olukoshi said that INEC must also publish the audit reports after receiving them.
He said that the forum expressed various concerns about elections in Nigeria and recommended strategies to improve the electoral process, ahead of the 2023 general election.
“Having agreed that consolidation of democracy involves widespread compliance with rule of law to guarantee a level playing field for candidates in elections, The Electoral Forum hereby recommends as follows:
“Engagement of INEC on the proper placement of voting cubicles during the election to ensure the secrecy of the ballots, in line with global integrity standards and best practices.
“INEC should train ad hoc staff on the proper placement of the voting cubicles to ensure secrecy of the ballot and privacy in relation to the positions of party agents during the voting process.
“The National Electoral Offences Commission should be an independent body and should not be subject to the Attorney General,” Olukoshi said.
He said also urged INEC and anti-graft agencies to ensure that there was compliance with the provisions of the law on campaigns.
He said the media should aid in boycotting negative news, hate speeches and ensure balanced coverage.
He added that mainstream and social media should be use to curb misinformation, disinformation and the issues pertaining to the misuse of media during the electioneering period.
He called for the revival of strategies and alliances by CSOs like before and which brought the changes in the electoral process between 1999 -2010 the first 10 years of democracy in Nigeria.
Olukoshi said that taskforce by citizens and CSOs should be formed to enable Nigerians to protect their mandate where necessary.
He called on CSOs to blow the whistle where the political classes use state resources for campaigns or personal gain.
He added that CSOs should also focus on the holistic agenda of good governance and not only on good elections as both were equally critical.
Olukoshi expressed concerns about the Electoral Offences Commission being subjected to the Attorney General of the Federation as this may lead to impunity at the highest level.
He called for policy-based and issue-based campaigns, eschewing hate speech in all its ramifications and that campaigns should target real issues facing the country with facts and figures.
He added that politicians should ensure that messages passed during campaigns were violence-free and impact positively on the audience.
“ In addition, banks and anti-corruption agencies such as ICPC and EFCC should be fully involved in monitoring campaigns and the electioneering period, and the media should spotlight more on policy-based campaigns by candidates and parties,’’ he said.
Olukoshi underscored the importance of security in the electoral process and emphasised that peaceful and credible elections could only be possible through close collaboration between INEC and the security agencies.
He also appreciated the initiatives of INEC such as the establishment of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) and identification of high-risk or flashy areas using electoral risk tools.
He named the tools as: the Election Violence Mitigation and Advocacy Tool (EVMAT), and the creation of voting centres for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) to ensure inclusivity for voters’ like people displaced due to insurgency.(
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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