Anambra gov poll: INEC plans e-transmission of results from 5,634 polling units

The Independent National Electoral Commission says it will upload election results from the 5,634 polling units to its result-viewing portal in today’s governorship poll in Anambra State.

It however said collation of results would be done manually as obtained in previous elections and not with the uploaded results.

The commission expressed confidence that the technological approach, designed to enhance transparency in the election management process, would boost people’s confidence in elections and enable Nigerians to view polling unit results in real time as voting ends.

The innovation, introduced in August 2020, was first used by the electoral body in the August 8, 2020 Nasarawa Central State Constituency bye-election and was later deployed in the Edo and Ondo states governorship elections held on September 19 and October 10, 2020, respectively.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, told Saturday PUNCH in an interview on Thursday that after the commission converted 1,112 voting points to full-fledged polling units, the total polling units in the state rose to 5,720.

He said 86 polling units would not be used because the commission could not carry out batch transfers because of insecurity and the inability to carry out intensive civic and voter education.


…to deploy bimodal system for voter fingerprints, facial accreditation

Meanwhile, Okoye said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System newly introduced by the commission would more or less replace the card readers going forward and would be used for voter registration, accreditation and uploading polling unit results to the result-viewing portal.

He said, “BVAS allows us to use one machine for the purposes of voter registration, accreditation – fingerprint and facial authentication – and uploading of polling unit results to our result-viewing portal. So, it’s a three-in-one solution. We are confident that the BVAS will perform well and it will be the dominant means of accreditation going forward.

“The commission will upload polling unit level results to our INEC result-viewing portal. We are confident that our new technological approach to elections will continue to yield results. We have trained all the ad hoc staff that would use the BVAS and the implication is that we have more or less retired the smart card reader as equipment for voter accreditation.”

Okoye said that the BVAS were dispatched to the local government areas since Thursday, adding that if any challenge arose, whether in the voting or logistics, the commission had the capacity to deal with them.


18 candidates vie for 2.5 million votes

No fewer than 18 political parties are participating in the election and they would be jostling for over 2.5 million votes. According to INEC, 2,525,471 registered voters would participate in the election.

It was gathered that 77,475 valid registered voters at the end of the first quarter of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise were added to the state’s voters’ register. This figure was added to the existing register of 2,447,996 eligible voters used for the 2019 general election. Accordingly, the number of registered voters in Anambra State now stands at 2,525,471.

Unlike what obtained in previous election, INEC did not release the number of PVCs collected in the state. It blamed the security situation and the sit-at-home order by the separatist Indigeneous People of Biafra, which prevented residents from free movement, for its inability to fully distribute the PVCs to the owners. Some civil society organisations who are also observers in the election however described this as unacceptable.

Meanwhile, many residents of the state believe that the top contenders in the election are Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressives Party; Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party, Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress, Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance and Godwin Maduka of Accord Party.

Other candidates are Etiaba Chukwuogo (AA); Nwankwo Chidozie (AAC); Akachukwu Nwankpo (ADC); Ume-Ezeoke Douglas (ADP); Onyejegbu Okwudili (APM) and Azubuike Echetebu (APP).

The rest are Chika Okeke Adibe (BP); Agbasimalo Emmanuel (LP); Ohajimkpo Emeka (NNPP); Ezenwafor Victor (NRM); Nnamdi Nwawuo (PRP); Uzoh Godwin (SDP) and Obiora Okonkwo (ZLP).


INEC procures group life, accident insurance for over 26,000 election workers

The INEC National Commissioner also explained that even though no form of insurance cover could replace a human life, the commission had put in place group life and accident insurance for the over 26,000 permanent and ad hoc staff deployed for the election.

He pointed out that the commission required at least 25,009 ad hoc staff and when added to other categories of staff, it needed at least 26,000 but that there was a slight shortfall due to anxiety in the state.

He however did not disclose the insurance companies that provided the cover.

He stated, “Over 26,000 ad hoc staff will be involved in this election. Staff of the commission will also be involved in the election. The commission has a group life and accident insurance for all the permanent and ad hoc staff that will be deployed for the election.

“We engaged reputable insurance companies for the purpose of providing insurance cover for our staff and critical national assets.

“The security agencies involved in election security remain within the command and control of their various agencies. The Commission only compliments what the security agencies are providing.”

On the safety of corps members, Okoye said the commission had a history of according the welfare and safety of corps members priority, adding, “We have assured them of their safety and their welfare. We will secure the Registration Area Centres. We will secure their lodges. We will protect the polling units and we will leave no stone unturned in protecting them.
“The corps members are determined to serve their nation and we are determined to protect them.”

KUDOS FOR ELECTORAL OFFENCES COMMISSION...
(Vanguard Editorial - 1st August, 2021)
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The Senate passed the “National Electoral Offences Bill 2021” on Tuesday, July 13, 2021.

The move to establish the Electoral Offences Commission is one of the redeeming features of the ongoing attempt to reform elections in Nigeria.

Our bicameral parliament is expected to agree on the relevant provisions of the Bill and forward it to President Muhammadu Buhari for possible approval.
We join millions of well-meaning Nigerians to eagerly await the signing into law of this legislation.

For too long, electoral criminals have gotten away with their crimes against our democracy.
Because the politicians are the biggest beneficiaries of electoral malfeasance, efforts to put a check on it have been half-hearted at best.

The 1999 Constitution (as Amended) vests both regulatory and operational electoral powers on INEC.
Time and experience, especially in the past 22 years, have proved that INEC is simply not in a position to pursue and prosecute electoral criminals.

According to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission, Kabiru Gaya, the Commission was not even able to prosecute one per cent of the 870,000 and 900,000 electoral offenders apprehended after the 2015 and 2019 general elections respectively.

Because there was no deterrence in 2015, the number of offenders jumped further up in 2019.
It will be worse going forward if nothing is done now.

We have been strong advocates for the unbundling of INEC and the establishment of a special mechanism outside the routine functions of the Commission to pursue and bring offenders to book.

Elections, being the means by which the citizenry hands over the state mandates to politicians, should not be left without punishment for those who seek to tamper with the people’s sacred power to choose through ballot snatching, figures falsification, armed violence, ballot box stuffing, vote buying and the harassment of poll workers and the electorate.

The Commission should be to electoral fraud what the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is to corruption.
It should arrest and prosecute electoral offenders and their sponsors, investigate electoral fraud, and ensure that those who obtain our mandate through false pretences or violence are made pay.

With such a Commission in place, the number of electoral offences will automatically plummet, especially if its operatives are allowed by politicians to do their jobs.
Our democracy will be the better for it, and good quality leadership materials who currently think politics is “too dirty” will be encouraged to vie and serve.

In addition to the Commission, we also advocate for a special court for electoral offenders.
This will help in speeding up trials and giving justice to those who deserve it.
The creation of a special court is the necessary next step.

This is an unfinished business.
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Source:
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/08/kudos-for-electoral-offences-commission/amp/

REPS SEEK TO STRIP POLICE, DSS, OTHERS POWERS TO PROSECUTE ELECTORAL OFFENDERS...
…Want special commission to handle offences.
(12th October, 2021)
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The House of Representatives will, in a few days, consider a proposed law to set up a Special Commission to prosecute electoral offences arising from next elections.

The bill exclusively obtained by Vanguard, is entitled “Electoral Offences Commission and Tribunal Bill, 2021”.

The bill, sponsored by Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers), in a proposed Part-3, states in part that “The Commission shall investigate, enforce and prosecute all electoral malpractices and electoral offences created under the Constitution, Electoral Act, and any other law....

“Advice the electoral entities of any change in practices, systems or procedures compatible with the effective discharge of the duties of electoral entities as the commission thinks fit to reduce the likelihood or incidence of electoral and related offences; adopt measures to identify, trace and prosecute thuggery, electoral fraud, political terrorism and related offences.”

The amendment also seeks to “adopt measures to prevent and eradicate the commission of electoral malpractices, including coordination, preventive and regulatory actions, introduction of investigative and control techniques, and the collaboration with election observers within and outside Nigeria.”

The bill equally seeks to “facilitate the exchange of scientific and technical information with other democracies in the conduct of joint operations and training geared towards the eradication of electoral fraud and malpractices; inform and educate the public on matters related to electoral and related offences and carry out such other activities as are necessary or expedient for the full discharge of all or any of the functions conferred on it under this Act or conferred upon it by an Act of the National Assembly.”

It also states that “the Commission, shall have powers to investigate and prosecute any person suspected to have conspired to commit or has attempted to commit or has committed an electoral offence or an offence under Constitution, this Act, the Electoral Act, or any other law”

The piece of legislation seeks to “examine the practices, systems and procedures of any electoral entity and where, in the opinion of the Constitution, such practices, systems or procedures aid or facilitate electoral offences, to advice on ways by which electoral offences may be eliminated or minimized by such entity.”

A new Electoral Act, currently before the National Assembly, seeks far-reaching reforms of the electoral system in the country.

The House resumes plenary Tuesday, to continue deliberations on key amendments for a new Electoral Order.
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Source:
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/10/2023-reps-seek-to-strip-police-dss-others-powers-to-prosecute-electoral-offenders/amp/

elocas:
Residents are indoors. Who is voting who?

modsfucker:


A winner must emerge, regardless.

ybalogs:
Apga or PDP?

Fahdiga:
APC won't succeed in rigging this election else it will be cancelled

modsfucker:


APC of course.