News
‘INEC Recruiting N Power Beneficiaries As Adhoc Staff ’ …Wide Margin Victory, No Longer Possible, Says INEC
Opposition political parties on the platform of the Coalition of United Political Parties yesterday raised the alarm on alleged plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission to compromise the forthcoming general elections.
They accused the electoral body of recruiting beneficiaries of the present administration’s N-Power programme as ad hoc staff for the general election.The coalition’s first national spokesperson, Imo Ugochinyere, made the allegation in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja.
Ugochinyere said, “The President wants to use the beneficiaries of their failed N-Power programme to technically rig the election.
“The INEC Chairman should ensure the credibility which he promised Nigerians by making sure that no N-Power beneficiary is recruited as ad hoc staff in the election because it is clear that these so-called beneficiaries are going to be used by President Buhari and his APC cohorts to rig the elections.”
The coalition’s spokesman claimed that the present administration has failed Nigerians and it is clear to government officials that they will lose the election in a free and fair contest.
This, he said, was why they are adopting all manner of ploys to rig the elections.
He added that information available to the CUPP indicated that Mrs Amina Zakari, believed to be a relative of the President would be in charge of the recruitment and training of the wards/local government areas/state collation and returning officers.
“We have just been informed from a very reliable source that Amina Zakari will be in charge of the recruitment and training of the Ward/LGA/State Collation and returning officers.
“This is an obvious effort by Amina Zakari to influence and manipulate the conduct of the 2019 elections,” he said.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, says technology has been able to prevent rigging such that no political party can win an election by a wide margin as was the case in the past.
Yakubu said this on the ‘Osasu Show’ which was posted on the show’s YouTube channel.
He said the Permanent Voter Cards and the smart card readers had been able to tackle rigging, hence the reason for the tightly contested elections in some off-season elections like the Ekiti and Osun governorship polls last year.
The INEC boss said, “Between 2015 and November 2018, we conducted elections into 195 constituencies, the largest number of off-season elections.
“The turnout varied from a little over 50 per cent in Katsina to as low as 2.9 per cent in Ifako/Ijaye in Lagos and 3.4 per cent in Eti Osa state constituency in Lagos.
“I think the thing to say about turnout is that because elections in Nigeria have progressively and incrementally improved, there is no possibility now that you will have the kind of margins that we used to experience in our elections before the introduction of technology — basically the PVC and the smart card reader.
“The elections in terms of outcome and turnout of votes are becoming more international. You can see the outcomes of the elections are becoming more and more competitive and closer to the kind of results we see even in advanced democracies.”
Yakubu said the Commission was ready for the elections, which begin in less than four weeks’ time.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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