Tag: INEC Commissioner

2023: INEC finally bows to pressure, extends deadline for party primaries

Aminu Imam

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), has finally extended the time schedule for the 2023 General Elections, after initially refusing to do so. INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, announced this in a statement yesterday, in Abuja. Okoye said the Commission would extend the June 3 deadline for party primaries by six days. He said, “Earlier, the political parties had requested for 37 – 60 days extension of the timeline for primaries and the nomination of candidates. The Commission was emphatic that this…

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2023 Polls: “We will not deploy to insecurity-prone areas” – INEC Commissioner

Aminu Imam

…Says Commission awaits S’Court judgment on CBN Gov. to take a stand A veteran journalist and National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), representing the North-Central zone, Muhammed Haruna, has disclosed that the Commission will not deploy to insecurity-prone areas in the country for the forthcoming 2023 general elections. In an interview with Voice of Liberty’s Abdull-Azeez ahmed Kadir, at the weekend, Haruna expressed the concern of the Commission about conducting free, fair and seamless elections in such areas. He stated: “We are absolutely really concerned; we have…

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2023: INEC reveals why parties may not participate in elections

Aminu Imam

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has offered reasons why political parties may be barred from nominating candidates for the general elections in 2023. Recall that the Presidential and National Assembly elections would be held on Saturday, February 25, 2023, while the Governorship and State Assembly elections come up on Saturday, March 11, 2023. INEC’s timetable indicates that political parties are to commence primary elections from April 4, 2022, to June 3, 2022. As a result, the electoral umpire has sent a strong warning to all political parties, reiterating “that…

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New Electoral Act contains progressive provisions to facilitate conduct of free, fair, credible elections — INEC

Aminu Imam

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), has assured that the new Electoral Act assented by President Muhammadu Buhari contains many progressive provisions that will facilitate the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria. In a statement issued by its National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, the Commission described the signed Act as historic. The statement further revealed that it will hold an extraordinary emergency meeting on Saturday to deliberate on the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general elections. The Commission…

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INEC fixes six bye-elections for February 26

Aminu Imam

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has scheduled six bye-elections for Saturday, February 26. INEC National Commissioner in-charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr. Festus Okoye, disclosed this in a statement yesterday, in Abuja. He said, “Following the declaration of vacancies by the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Honourable Speakers of some State Houses of Assembly, the Commission has scheduled bye-elections for six constituencies in 4 States as follows: “Akure North/Akure South Federal constituency, (Ondo State); Jos North/Bassa Federal constituency, (Plateau); Pankshin-South State constituency, (Plateau);…

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2023 Election: February 18 presidential poll date sacrosanct – INEC:

Aminu Imam

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), has said that nothing has changed about the February 18, 2023 presidential election date. INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, stated this in an interview, yesterday. “The Commission will as soon as practicable meet to consider issues that may shape the 2023 general election and possibly consider the date for the release of the timetable and schedule of activities,” he said. According to him, 2022 will be a busy and challenging year for the Commission. He further stated:…

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Anambra Guber: “Fear of IPOB beginning of wisdom” — INEC Commissioner

Aminu Imam

The Independent National Electoral Commission Supervising Residence Electoral Commissioner in Anambra, Sam Egwu, says “the fear of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)” has become ‘the beginning of wisdom’ in South-East”. He also decried the poor turnout of voters during the Anambra gubernatorial election which was held on Saturday. Speaking with newsmen at the weekend, Egwu lamented over the low voter-turnout in the State, claiming this is not really good for Nigeria’s democracy. Recall that the outlawed group had ordered the ‘sit-at-home’ across the South-East region following the incarceration…

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Senate rejects Lauretta Onochie as INEC commissioner

Aminu Imam

The Senate has rejected the nomination of presidential aide, Lauretta Onochie, as a commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The rejection yesterday followed the massive outcry that has trailed her nomination, especially from members of the opposition and civil society organisations who claim she is a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Recall that Rivers State governor,  Nyesom Wike,  on Monday rejected the nomination of Onochie as the national commissioner of INEC, accusing the APC of plotting to rig the 2023 general elections. President Muhammadu Buhari had…

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INEC job: Evidence emerges showing Lauretta Onochie lied to Senate panel

Aminu Imam

Despite denying allegiance to the All Progressives Congress, (APC), an old tweet has now emerged indicating that the Personal Assistant on Social Media to the President, Lauretta Onochie, supported and promoted the party in 2020, contrary to her claim that she had quit partisan politics in 2019. Recall that  Ms. Onochie, on Thursday, appeared before the Senate Committee on INEC, which screened her for the position of national commissioner for the electoral umpire. She was nominated for the position by President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2020. If confirmed, she will…

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INEC office set ablaze in Akwa-Ibom

Aminu Imam

The Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), in Essien Udim local government area of Akwa Ibom State, has been set ablaze. Confirming the development in a press statement,  the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said: “The incident occurred in the early hours of this morning, (yesterday); our security guard on duty escaped unhurt but the destruction to the building and properties therein was extensive. “Items destroyed include 345 ballot boxes, 135 voting cubicles, megaphones, water tanks and office furniture. The police,…

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