Politics
INEC To Resume Continuous Voter Registration In Edo, Ondo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it plans to conduct the continuous voter registration (CVR) in Edo and Ondo states from Monday, May 27 to Wednesday, June 5.
INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said this at the commission’s second regular quarterly consultative meeting with political parties held on Monday in Abuja.
Prof. Yakubu said that INEC would also distribute uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the two states during the period, advising those who were yet to register or collect their PVCs to use the opportunity to do so.
“Let me reiterate that the CVR is only open to new registrants and those who seek to transfer their registration.
“Persons who are already registered voters should not attempt to register again as that will amount to double or multiple registrations and it is illegal.
“Lost or damaged voters’ cards will be replaced during the exercise but this does not require fresh registration,” he said.
Prof Yakubu said that taking into consideration the limited time to the election, the CVR would take place at ward and state headquarters of INEC instead of the local government offices, and a few designated centres.
“This means that there will be 192 Ward registration centres in Edo and 203 centres in Ondo, in addition to our state offices in Benin City and Akure, making a total of 397 walk-in registration centres in the two states.
“There will be no online pre-registration option in the two states because of time constraints. Each centre will be managed by two officials drawn from our regular staff and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC),’’ he said.
He added that in the next few days, INEC would commence the training of at least 794 officials for the exercise, saying that the locations for the registration centres and other relevant information had been made available to political party leaders.
Prof Yakubu appealed to political parties and other stakeholders to join INEC in mobilising prospective registrants for the exercise, particularly on the need to register early and not wait until the eleventh hour.
He said that INEC plans to publish the list of uncollected PVCs in its offices in the two states and simultaneously upload to the commission’s website.
He also urged them to adhere strictly to the timeline for the upload of the list of polling and collation agents to the INEC dedicated portal.
He said doing so would enable INEC to produce and deliver identity cards in good time for the expected 76,823 polling unit agents and 3,587 ward, local government and state collation agents for the election.
“Turning to Ondo, political parties have just concluded their primaries. Eighteen political parties conducted primaries monitored by the Commission.
“I wish to remind you that parties have one week until the deadline for the nomination of candidates, which is 6.00 p.m. on Monday May 20, 2024 when the portal automatically shuts down.
“I urge you to adhere strictly to the deadline. Political parties have been given 23 days from the end of primaries to prepare and submit the list of only two candidates (governorship candidate and running mate) to the Commission,’’ Prof Yakubu said.
He said that the commission was remobilising to conduct the two state assembly constituencies in Enugu and Kano states.
Prof Yakubu also said that INEC would soon announce the date for the conduct of by-election into existence of vacancies in National and State Assemblies caused by either death or resignation of members in three states constituencies and one federal constituency.
“The constituencies are; Khana 2 State Constituency of Rivers, the Bagwai/Shanono State constituency of Kano State, the Zaria Kewaye State Constituency of Kaduna State and the Garki/Babura Federal Constituency of Jigawa State,’’ he said.
In his remarks, the national chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yusuf Dantalle, pledged to work with INEC to mobilise voters for the Edo and Ondo governorship election.
“Ahead of the forthcoming Edo and Ondo States governorship election, it is important that voters are massively mobilised to register and participate in the poll.
“As the umbrella body of all registered political parties in Nigeria, IPAC will spearhead this crucial exercise in collaboration with INEC.
“In previous elections, Council would move to various states, sensitise and mobilise the people on upcoming polls, call for non-violence and urge them to shun vote buying and selling, etc with the limited funds at its disposal,’’ Mr Dantalle said.
The Tide source reports that Prof. Akinoso was elected alongside 38 other executive members of the party at the congress held on Saturday.
Other executive members are Dr Abiola Olaonipekun, who emerged as Secretary, Alhaja Latifah Latifu, Women Leader and Mr A. Adeleke, elected as Youth Leader.
It was learnt that the congress, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado in Ibadan, was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, other security agencies and prominent members of the party.
The election was supervised by electoral committee members, among whom were Prince Diran Odeyemi, who served as Chairman, Hon. Awoniyi Tolulope, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Queen Stepheine Oyechere, Alhaji Yusuf Abidakun, Mr Olumide Aguda and Dr Phillips Adeniyi, who served as Secretary.
Prof. Akinoso, in his inaugural address, urged members of the party to set aside intra-party differences.
He advised them to concentrate their resources on the promotion of the party, saying, “The primary responsibilities of party executive members are to coordinate party activities, ensure harmony among members, and ensure party victory during general elections.
“Our immediate assignments are to key into INEC released 2027 general election time-tables. As directed by the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, our party e-membership registration starts next week. We must be fully involved and do a membership drive.
“A political party is only relevant and benefits its members if it wins the election. This is our goal. We should set aside intra-party differences; concentrate our resources towards the promotion of the party. We will make necessary consultations and dialogue to actualise this”.
President Tinubu disclosed this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
He also disclosed that his administration had opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” President Tinubu said.
The ruling party said the ADC had turned criticism of the APC-led administration into its operating manifesto instead of presenting concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, the party dismissed the ADC’s interpretation of a report presented at a policy dialogue organised by Agora Policy which suggested that the country’s poverty rate had risen from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
Mr Morka said the opposition party’s reaction to the report as a “damning verdict” on the government’s economic policies reflected either ignorance of economic realities or deliberate political mischief.
“The African Democratic Congress’ attempt to spin a recent report presented at the Agora Policy dialogue indicating a rise of poverty rate of 63 per cent from 49 per cent as a damning verdict on this administration’s economic policies speaks either to its shocking ignorance of economic policy or its wilful blindness to the justification for, and transformative impacts of, ongoing economic reforms,” he said.
The APC spokesman noted that the report itself recognised the necessity of reforms aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
According to him, the ADC had failed to present any credible alternative policy direction for Nigerians.
“Clearly, the ADC does not recognise itself as a political party. The ADC has not articulated a single alternative policy position or prescription of benefit to Nigerians. Condemning the APC and its policies has become its operating manifesto,” Mr Morka said.
He explained that major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows, were necessary steps to rescue the country’s economy from collapse.
Mr Morka said the subsidy regime had for years placed a heavy burden on public finances, consuming trillions of naira annually while encouraging corruption, fuel smuggling and inefficiencies in the system.
He added that the reforms had helped redirect national resources to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that economic reforms often come with short-term hardship but stressed that the measures were essential to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
“Economic reform is never cost-free anywhere in the world. The transient hardship experienced by Nigerians was an inevitable cost of reforms meant to build and guarantee a better future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Morka maintained that the country’s economic outlook was already improving, citing recent growth figures and stronger external reserves.
“Our economy has rebounded and is expanding steadily. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to expand by 5.5 per cent this fiscal year, with foreign reserves now exceeding $50 billion,” he stated.
He also pointed to government initiatives designed to cushion the effects of economic adjustments on citizens, including cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.
Mr Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain focused on rebuilding the economy and expanding social investments to support vulnerable Nigerians.
-
News4 days agoNavy Destroys Illegal Refinery In Rivers, Intercepts Stolen Fuel In C’ River
-
News4 days agoYou’re The Backbone Of Our Society, Fubara Salutes Mothers On Mothering Sunday
-
Rivers4 days agoCounty Grammar School Old Boys Elect New Executive
-
Environment4 days agoIllegal Buildings On Embassies’ Land Will Be Demolished – Wike
-
Politics4 days agoHUNDREDS OF LATE BAYELSA DEP GOV’S KINSMEN DUMP PDP FOR APC
-
Politics4 days agoA’Court Voids Rep’s Sack Over Defection To APC
-
Politics4 days agoYou’re Misleading Nigerians, APC Slams ADC Over Poverty Rate Report
-
Niger Delta4 days agoLawyer X-rays Consequences Of Court Injuction Suspending INC Polls … As Diri Intervenes