The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday said
that it cannot prosecute the Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello for
double registration because he has immunity
He also said that the commission cannot enforce his disqualification
for double registration because double registration is not an offence
under the electoral act.
The INEC chairman also called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to
provide evidence that the commission collected a list of partisan
ad-hoc staff from the All Progressives Congress (APC) .
Speaking at a quarterly media meeting with newsmen, the INEC chairman
said, “On the issue of double registration, there is nothing INEC can
do with someone who has a constitutional immunity. The governor in
question has a guaranteed constitutional immunity.
”We disciplined our staff that were involved because it is within our
reach to take administrative action against them. Moreover the
electoral act does not permit us to disqualify any one based on the
account of double registration. This is our handicap.”
On the allegation of receiving a prepared list from the APC, the INEC
chairman challenged the PDP to provide actionable evidence as it is
not enough to make frivolous allegations.
He said that it is common to hear from politicians make unsubstantiate
allegations, citing the case of a politician in Anambra state who
claimed that INEC had stocked two lorry loads of ballot boxes rig the
elections against his party but after the elections he sang another
song.
“By and large, all we have to say is to ask those making these
allegations to provide to INEC actionable evidence and we will move
into action. Give us evidence and INEC will act swiftly,” Yakubu said.
…distributes 2.4m PVCs
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has so
far distributed 2,485136 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to the
electorate in Bayelsa and Kogi ahead of the Nov. 16, Governorship
Poll.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this at a quarterly
consultative meeting of the Commission with Civil Society
Organisations (CSOs) in Abuja on Wednesday.
“A total of 889,308 PVCs were collected in Bayelsa, while 1,485,828
PVCs were collected by the electorate in Kogi as at Sept. 30,” he
said.
Yakubu said in Bayelsa, the number of PVCs collected represented 96.3
per cent of 923,182 registered voters in the state, while the number
of uncollected PVCs stood at 33,874, representing 3.7 per cent.
He also said 1,485,828 PVCs were collected in Kogi, representing 90.2
per cent of 1,646,350 registered voters in the state, while 160,522
PVCs were still uncollected, representing 9.8 per cent of the
registered voters.
“The commission will make available detailed figures of PVCs collected
in each state by Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Registration Areas
(RAs) as part of our continuing effort to deepen transparency and
accountability.
“Copies will be made available at the commission stakeholders’
meetings in Yenagoa and Lokoja. The same information will also be
uploaded on INEC website.
“Meanwhile, all uncollected PVCs have been retrieved from our LGA
offices and would be deposited at the branches of the Central Bank of
Nigeria in Bayelsa and Kogi for safe keeping, pending the resumption
of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR),” he said.
Yakubu also disclosed that the commission has accredited 135 domestic
observer groups and 16 foreign observer groups for the Nov. 16
election in the two states.
He said that while 67 domestic observer groups were accredited for
Bayelsa, 68 were accredited for Kogi, and eight foreign observer
groups for each of the states.
The INEC boss reminded the observer groups of the imperative of
submitting their reports in line with the terms of their
accreditation.
“For the 2019 General Elections, INEC accredited a total of 159
observer groups out of which 120 were domestic and 39 foreign.
Collectively, they proposed to deploy 73,562 observers made up of
71,256 domestic and 2,306 foreign.
“However, seven months after the general elections, the commission has
so far received reports from only 72 observer groups representing 45.2
per cent, out of 159.
“I wish to remind those that are yet to formally submit their reports
to the Commission to do so in earnest in both hard and soft copies as
required of them under their terms of accreditation,” he said.
Yakubu said that for the groups that had submitted their reports, INEC
had analysed their recommendations for implementation.
He, however, noted that majority of the recommendations tend to be
general and not detailed and specific enough for remedial action.
“This is especially where inadequacies or failures that could lead to
action taken against individuals or groups were reported.
“More detailed and accurate recommendations will help us identify
locations, individuals or groups responsible for infractions and take
appropriate action or in the case of exceptional performance to
commend those responsible,” he said.
Yakubu disclosed that the commission had had engagement with security
agencies to ensure unimpeded access to voting locations and collation
centres for accredited observers and the media in Bayelsa and Kogi.
This according to him was in addition to adequate protection for all,
including election officials and voters.
“We also agreed that the rules of engagement for security officials on
election duty should be reprinted and made available to the security
personnel and stakeholders,” he said.
He assured that CSOs would continue to play important role in the
country’s democratic process.
“We value your engagement with the Commission and will continue to
deepen it,” he said.
