News
‘Permanent Voters Card Ready, Soon’ …As INEC Insists On Parties De-registation
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said
yesterday in Abuja that it would soon start issuing permanent voters’ cards.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, gave the assurance when
he fielded questions at an interview session with newsmen.
He said distribution of the proposed voters’ cards would
begin before the end of this year.
He added that the objective was to improve the credibility
and transparency of the electoral process in the country and that the proposed
card was geared toward improving the use of technology in elections.
“As you know, we did biometric data registration; before the
end of this year, we will start issuing the permanent voters’ cards and these
permanent voters’ cards that we are going to issue are chip-based, just like
many of our own bank cards.
“So they carry all the information on a microchip which is
embedded in the card of the voter.
“So what we believe we can achieve at the minimum by 2015,
is that we can achieve 100 per cent authentication at the polling units.’’
“If a voter comes to the polling unit and brings out his or
her card, we will be able to determine 100 per cent whether he is the
legitimate holder of the card.
“So, the issues of people using other people’s cards to go
and vote; the issues of stealing cards or even buying cards will be squarely
dealt with and that, we believe we can achieve, God willing by 2015.
“We already have all the data in our database; we are now
going to issue the permanent voter cards; all we need to do between now and
2015 is to buy what I call card readers in which we will store all the
information,’’ Jega said.
The INEC chairman explained further that card readers would
be available in all the polling units to ascertain the legitimacy of the
holder.
Jega also said that the process of identifying valid owners
of the card would go a long way in terms of improving the credibility and the
transparency of the electoral process.
On the proposed electronic voting in 2015, and its
feasibility, he said: “technically, there is no proposal by INEC that it should
be adopted in 2015.’’
He said INEC instead made a recommendation to the National
Assembly that the provision of the Constitution which prohibited electronic
voting should be removed due to its limitation.
“Right now, if we are to introduce electronic voting in this
country, we have to do a lot of piloting.
“We have to do a lot of sampling of existing machines right
now, because of that prohibition, we can’t even attempt to do it.’’
He said, however, that INEC would explore the possibility of
electronic voting if the said provision was deleted from the Constitution.
“Now if that is done in good time, and we are able to
explore the possibility and it seems feasible, then obviously at that time we
will tell Nigerians that it is feasible, and then maybe we should try it.
“But right now, we haven’t gotten to that stage; right now
what we want is the removal of a major hindrance for INEC to even begin to
explore the possibility of electronic voting.
“But what INEC is trying to do, and then we are really again
improving the use of technology in elections, is that as you know we did
biometric data registration.’’
Meanwhile, Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman,
Prof. Attahiru Jega, said in Abuja yesterday that the commission would continue
to de-register political parties that failed to comply with the provisions of
the Electoral Act.
Jega, who made the declaration at a forum, said that the
commission was empowered by law to de-register political parties.
“The Constitution and the Electoral Act gave INEC the power
to de-register political parties and we have commenced that process and it is
ongoing. So, until there is a change in the legislation, obviously, any
political party that does not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act,
we are obligated to de-register them.
“So, it is an ongoing process. It’s a continuous process and
we will do it. I think there are very useful models of registration of
political parties in other countries that we can learn from.’’
Jega said the commission was determined to review the
process of registering political parties to ensure that they meet certain
conditions before they could field candidates for elective positions.
According to him, INEC has already proposed some recommendations
for constitutional amendment to vary the process of registration, while
maintaining multiparty system of democracy.
He said: “It is good to have a multiparty system and to
allow as many parties as possible to register, but we really need to sanitise
the process of registering political parties. This will ensure that only the
most deserving in terms of their programmes, their constitution, and their
physical presence in states and in localities are registered.
“But being a registered political party does not necessarily
mean that you must field candidates in all elections. It may be necessary for
some parties to bid their time until they are ripe enough to field candidates
at elections.
“So, we think that’s the way to go rather than to limit the
number of registered parties to just a few.’’
Jega added that there were not less than three fresh
applications for registration of new political parties.
A Coalition of civil society organisations has urged the Federal Government to take proactive steps towards addressing the persistent gas eruptions in Bille, Rivers.
The coalition, made up of the People’s Assembly and Bille Working Group, made the call in an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, and read to journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Reading the letter, the coalition’s convener, Dr Isaac Osuoka, said that the persistent gas eruption in Bille had led to serious environmental and public health challenges.
Osuoka, also the Executive Director, Social Action, urged Tinubu to establish a presidential task force to investigate and contain the gas leak in Bille.
He also called for the immediate relocation of residents to safe shelters, provision of clean water, food and healthcare services.
Dr Emem Okon, the Executive Director, Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, stated that gas had been bubbling from the ground, creeks, boreholes and hand-dug wells in the community since October 2025.
Okon said that the gas had triggered several fires and explosions, and that residents of the community had reported respiratory problems, vomiting and other illnesses associated with exposure to the emissions.
According to her, preliminary investigations by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have yet to identify the source of the gas.
Mr Kentebe Ebiaridor, the Coordinator, Oilwatch International, called for the publication of results from preliminary soil and water tests conducted in Bille for the residents to know the nature and extent of the contamination.
Ebiaridor urged the Federal Government to deploy medical teams to screen and treat affected residents, and immediately commence an independent study on the health impacts of the leak.
He further called for the suspension of oil and gas operations around OML 18 and 24 until the source of the gas leak was identified and the affected areas declared safe.
Ebiaridor urged the government to hold current and former operators of the oil leases accountable for environmental damage on the community.
Another speaker, Dr Bieye Briggs, urged the National Assembly to fast-track the NOSDRA Amendment Bill, 2025 to provide the agency with statutory funding and stronger enforcement powers.
Briggs urged the Federal Government to activate the regional Spill Command Centre, and make the Upstream Remediation Fund accessible for the Bille crisis and other affected communities in the Niger Delta.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has banned drone operations and fireworks in Uyo and announced temporary traffic restrictions ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the State today.
The state Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, announced the measures yesterday while briefing journalists at the Police Headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo.
He said the restrictions were part of security arrangements to maintain public order, protect strategic locations and ensure the smooth movement of the President’s convoy during his engagements.
“There will be total restriction on the operation and flying of drones within Uyo metropolis throughout the period of the visit. Members of the public, drone operators and service providers are advised to strictly comply with the directive,” he said.
The police commissioner also announced a ban on fireworks, knockouts and other explosive sound-producing devices within the state capital during the visit.
He said the measure would prevent panic and allow security personnel to respond effectively to genuine security threats.
The command also announced temporary restrictions on public access to designated routes and locations in Uyo to facilitate the movement of the presidential convoy.
The affected areas are Airport Road, Shelter Afrique Junction, Oron Road, Nung Oku Junction, Mbierebe Junction and Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
“Motorists are urged to plan their journeys, exercise patience and cooperate with traffic and security personnel deployed along the corridors.
“Members of the public are advised to avoid the routes during the restriction and use alternative routes,” Azare said.
He also urged residents to plan their journeys, exercise patience and cooperate with traffic and security personnel deployed along the affected corridors.
The commissioner said the command, working with other security agencies, had put in place security arrangements to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free visit.
He appealed to residents to understand that the temporary restrictions were necessary security measures and not intended to cause hardship.
Azare urged members of the public to remain law-abiding, avoid restricted areas and report suspicious movements to the nearest police station or through police emergency channels.
Tinubu’s visit to Akwa Ibom is a working visit during which he is expected to inaugurate major infrastructure projects executed by Governor Umo Eno’s administration under its ARISE Agenda. The projects cut across aviation, road infrastructure, tourism, healthcare, land administration and security.
Among the projects scheduled for inauguration are the international terminal building and airport hospital at Victor Attah International Airport, Aviation Village, ARISE Palm Resort, the 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road, Ring Road 3, the Command and Control Centre and the AkwaGIS building.
The state government had earlier announced plans for the President to inaugurate projects as part of activities marking Akwa Ibom’s 39th anniversary in September.
The airport projects are particularly significant to the state’s ambition to expand aviation, tourism and investment.
The international terminal is expected to strengthen the airport’s capacity to handle international operations, while the Aviation Village is intended to provide accommodation for aviation workers. The airport hospital is also among the facilities lined up for inauguration.
The road projects are also expected to improve connectivity. The 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road links communities in the two local government areas, while Ring Road 3 is designed to improve movement within Uyo and ease pressure on existing roads. The Command and Control Centre, meanwhile, is intended to strengthen security surveillance and coordination in the State.
The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has floated a culture content platform in collaboration with digital television group, Multichoice.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, disclosed this after a meeting with MultiChoice Head of Content Acquisition, Don Dotun Ojon, in Port Harcourt.
He assured that content entrepreneurs and film makers would enjoy the platform by promoting culture and other contents to sell the states tourism potentials.
He said MultiChoice M-net was now open to increase its patronage for content shots on locations in Rivers State, describing the State as one that has numerous potentials for film tourism.
“We were privileged to have Don Ojon with us at the Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) at the weekend in Bonny and he saw, first hand, the numerous sites and opportunities that are open to creatives in the State. After that, we felt it was important to deepen the conversation and he obliged. This is a cheering news for the sector in the State,” he said.
Ndigbara stated that “Rivers State has many more untold stories to tell, many more contents to reel out and the assurances from the M-net Acquisition Manager is an indication that the industry in the state will soon enjoy a new lease of life”.
The Permanent Secretary thanked Ojon for the visit and assured that creatives in the State would grap this opportunity and show the world that Rivers State is a major hub for film tourism in Nigeria.
On his part, Ojon said the visit was to discuss on ways of promoting tourism in the State using creatives and film.
Ojon said although the company has recently been acquired by canal+ France and is undergoing restructuring, he would promote the chances of Rivers State to host the MultiChoice talent factory in the State.
With Asaba, capital of Delta State, being saturated, Ojon said the next port is Rivers State, which he said is capable of building fresh crop of creatives, new locations, new story lines and concepts.
He, therefore, called for collaboration from stakeholders in the State.
Kevin Nengia
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