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.
News
Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf
Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.
The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.
CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.
The students, led by Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.
According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.
The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.
Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.
He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.
Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.
The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.
He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.
CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.
He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.
Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.
The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.
The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.
According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.
The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.
Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.
He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.
CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.
He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.
The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.
International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.
Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.
He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.
Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.
He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.
“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.
Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.
Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.
He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.
According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.
Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.
The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.
Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.
By: John Bibor
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.
Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.
The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.
He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.
Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.
On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.
The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.
Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.
On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.
He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.
The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.
Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.
By; King Onunwor