By Angela Atabo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is willing to make available all necessary documents on the Feb. 25 presidential election for inspection by interested parties.

Prof.Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman, INEC, said this when he received a team of lawyers from the Labour Party (LP) led by Dr Livy Uzoukwu,a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in Abuja on Monday.

Yakubu acknowledged the receipt of a letter from the LP dated March 6, notifiying it that the team would visit for inspection of election materials.

He said that the letter also requested the commission to get in touch with its Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) across the 36 states and the FCT to make the documents available for the prosecution of the LP’s petition.

Yakubu said that INEC had scheduled a virtual meeting with all the RECs to discuss among other issues, the matter of providing Certified True Copies (CTCs) not only to the LP but to all other litigants.

“ I want to assure you that the commission will not hide any document from anybody and will make available any document that they have requested.

“Please be assured that INEC has nothing to hide;whatever you are asking for will be made available to you.

“There are two categories of documents those that are in possession of the headquarters of INEC we will easily make these documents available to you.

“Specifically the EC8Ds from the states and the EC8DA, which is the collation at the national collation centre by the commission itself.

“The EC8DA, the declaration, so many documents ,a total of I think 39 documents, this we can easily certify and give you almost immediately,’’ he said.
Yakubu said other documents being sought for were at the states level, saying that INEC would work out a schedule to know when the team would visit the states ,so as to easily facilitate not just certification of documents, but also the inspection requested for each of the documents.

“The other one is accreditation data from the back end. This will also be made available to you. Remember that the accreditation data covers over 176,000 polling units.

“We have to print them physically certify them, and give them to you ,so the tall and short of what I am saying is that you will get this document speedily,” he said.

Yakubu urged the LP legal team to interface with INEC’s legal team immediately to work out things.

Speaking, Uzoukwu,a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Lead Council to the LP Presidential Legal Team, said the visit was to prepare ground for the inspection of the materials for the presidential election.

“As you all know, election petition is time sensitive,we have 21 days to file a petition on behalf of our clients and out of that 21 days we probably have about 10 days to go and up till now we have not received any documents.

“We have written to INEC requesting for documents apart from that,the Court of Appeal made an order on the March 3, ordering INEC to release those documents to us but we haven’t received any hence requested for a meeting with the chairman of finance.

“ INEC graciously granted that audience within a very short notice, and he has given us assurance, concrete assurance on record that all documents we require will be made available and if possible, some of them will be made available to us today,’’he said.

Uzoukwu said the team believed that INEC would respond as promised adding that “we are leaving here rest assured that at least we will leave with some documents,the rest can then come from tomorrow and so on and so forth.

“At least if we get some of them today that is indicative that we’ll get some other documents from tomorrow, next tomorrow to enable us fight this petition,’’he said.

Dr Tanko Yusuf, Chief Spokesperson for Peter Obi/Datti Ahmed presidential campaign council, said that the party gave an ultimatum for INEC to make available the documents failure of which it would mobilise its members to demonstrate against INEC nationwide.

Yusuf said that graciously the chairman of INEC haven read that particular statement granted them the opportunity to come and liaise with him and he has assured the team of lawyers to present these documents.

Yusuf said however, that the INEC chairman granted the party’s request for its lawyers to assess the documents.
“So we want to wait and see the responses of our legal team,it is the legal team that will give us the marching order.
“When they are satisfied with what they’ve received from INEC so that our members nationwide and worldwide will be satisfied that we are doing our job and they are ready to prosecute this case accordingly,” he said (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa
 

By Naomi Sharang

The Senator representing Kogi-East Senatorial District, Sen. Jibrin Isa has assured his constituents of more infrastructural development.

Isa, popularly known as Echocho, who gave the assurance while speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Monday expressed gratitude to God and member of his constituents for the victory at the polls.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on March 7, presented Certificate of Return to Isa alongside 97 other senators.

The senator promised better days for the people by sponsoring bills and motions that would have direct impact on them.

“I will focus on projects that will be of direct benefit to the people of Kogi-East and the state at large.

“I have done a lot and a lot more will come from me during this second tenure especially at harnessing the raw materials Kogi is endowed with.

“I will want to believe that a lot more will come from me. In my first tenure, I have been able to set up two rice processing plants, a cashew processing plant, cassava processing plant, oil palm processing plant and skills acquisition centre among others,’’ he said.

He further said that his contribution to the development of the constituency was the only way he could appreciate them for the opportunity given to him for the second term.

Isa also urged the senators to live above board by upholding national interest above personal interest.

The lawmaker, however, appreciated Gov. Yahaya Bello for his support, saying that he would do his best to attract federal presence to the state.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kabir Muhammad/Sadiya Hamza

By Angela Atabo

The Support Group Cordination of the APC Presidential Campaign Council has urged security agencies to caution Labour Party’s activities.

Secretary  of the group ,Tosin Adeyanju, made the call in a statement  on Sunday in Abuja.

Adeyanju  alleged that the leadership of the Labour Party had threatened to truncate  the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s)  activities with protest over inability to inspect election materials of the last Presidential election.

He described the act as mischief making  and warned them to desist from any protest.

‘We  have uncovered plans by some groups of persons who want to, in the name of protest, unleash violence, instead of addressing their grievances to the tribunal.

“We hereby warn these groups/persons to shelve their planned violence or have us to contend with.”

“Therefore, parents and guardians are advised to warn their children against participating in the planned protest slated for tomorrow across the country.”

Adeyanju alleged  that  Labour Party  was  sponsoring protests and  warned that they should  desist from such unpatriotic plans.

“We call on Security agencies, to as a matter of urgency, take proper action against these enemies of democracy.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Bashir Rabe Mani

Sen. Aliyu Wamakko (APC-Sokoto North) has appealed to the electorate to be peaceful as they troop to the polling units to cast their votes in Saturday’s Governorship and State Houses of
Assembly elections.

Wamakko, in a special message to the people of Sokoto State, said that peace is the prerequisite of any meaningful development.

“Without peace and harmony, development and socio-economic prosperity will continue to elude us.

“Our topmost priority should be the sustenance of peace, unity and the spirit of good neighbourliness,” the former Governor of Sokoto State said.

Wamakko said that violence would not do anybody any good, as it is destructive and retrogressive.

He said: “Nobody should perpetrate violence in the name of politics, hence we should all uphold the sanctity of human life.

“God gives and takes leadership to whosoever He wishes and at his appointed time.

“So, we should all go out peacefully on Saturday and cast our votes for our preferred candidates.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

By Perpetua Onuegbu

The Digital Rights and Information Partnership (DRIP) and Paradigm Initiative, have urged the Federal Government to embrace electoral transparency and safeguard digital rights of citizens.

The groups gave the charge on Friday in Abuja at a news conference organised to educate media practitioners and the public on the importance of safeguarding digital rights and improving transparency in electoral processes.

DRIP’s Spokesperson, Mr Edozie Chukwuma, said the sensitisation became imperative because of the several shortcomings that trailed the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

According to him, the Feb.25 elections fell short of international transparency standards due to the INEC’s inability to effectively and efficiently leverage digital technology.

“Leveraging digital media and the internet have its unique challenges due to our dynamic political landscape which was evident in the just concluded elections.

“The commission invested heavily in technology (such as the BVAS and IREV systems) to ensure transparency and direct transmission of electoral results from polling units.

“However, polling results were transmitted manually due to reports of external interference and connectivity challenges faced which highlight the issues of citizens’ data protection, internet governance and unlawful shutdowns.

“Nigerians deserve protection against unlawful shutdowns and interferences as seen during the presidential elections which has decreased citizens’ trust in the commission’s capacity to ensure transparency and credibility,” Chukwuma said.

According to him, Nigerians should be given enabling environment to vote with assurance that their votes will count with no fear of the use of suppressive force that hinders civic participation.

He said the use of the internet, social media and mass media could be advantageous in holding governments and agencies accountable in seeking redress for violence and misconduct against human and digital rights.

” In view of the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill (DRFB) at the National Assembly, it is important to emphasise that the legislation seeks to address these issues.

“It aims at prohibiting undue interference with digital privacy of any Nigerian citizen.

“Protects the rights to peaceful assembly and association online of all Nigerians through social networks and platforms.

“Ensure access to the internet and electronic media or communication of all people without being subject to discrimination or censorship.

“Protects right to opinion and expression online without any restriction

“Secures the privacy of all online learners including students and empowers education and innovation by protecting information and communication technology,”

He further said that the Bill if passed would ensure that government recognised the power of social media as a democratic advantage to reinforce democratic processes, drive efficiency, foster innovation, empower public sector workers and expose corruption.

Chukwuma, therefore, called on government to safeguard the civic space by curtailing unlawful shutdowns, and guarantee freedom of expression and assembly online of all Nigerians.

He added that it was the civic responsibility of electoral agencies and the government to ensure the digital rights of Nigerians were not infringed upon during and the gubernatorial elections.

“We call for the protection of digital rights and online freedom as it is of democratic importance to ensure accountability and good governance from our government at all levels.

“We are also using this medium to call on Nigerians not to give up because of the unsatisfactory results of the presidential elections.

“But they should go out enmasse and exercise their franchise because if they don’t, undemocratic elements will capitalise on it and utterly have their way.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Isaac Aregbesola