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Okowa lauds INEC stance on e-transmission of election results

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2 years ago

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Delta-Governor-Ifeanyi-Okowa
Delta-Governor-Ifeanyi-Okowa
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Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for declaring that it has the capacity to transmit results electronically.

Okowa made the commendation in Asaba on Monday while receiving the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Delta, Pastor Monday Udoh-Tom, and his management team.
The REC was at the Government House on an advocacy visit to the governor on the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
He commended INEC for its efforts at ensuring the credibility of the electoral process and for its stance to transmit results electronically.
The governor however, deplored the National Assembly’s rejection of electronic-transmission of election results.
According to him, the votes of some members of chambers of the parliament against electronic-transmission of election results could be interpreted that there was a plan to rig elections.
He warned that rejection of electronic transmission of election results could deter the country’s effort at attracting Foreign Direct Investments.
“We must truly appreciate INEC because on daily basis they are thinking of the best ways to move our electoral system forward so that we can minimise all possibilities of fraud.
“Once Nigerians trust our electoral process, many Nigerians will come out to register and vote during elections.
”We need to change the narrative of many Nigerians that whether they vote or not, results will still come out the way they want it,” he said.
Okowa congratulated the INEC Chairman for coming out to insist that INEC had the capacity to truly transmit election results.
He said that there was no reason any Nigerian would want to vote for non-transmission of election results.
“It’s not just good for our economy and our image as a nation, because until people learn to trust our electoral processes, it will be difficult for people to come in and do business with us,” he said.
He added that it was “doable and possible” saying that all of us saw it with Edo State election.
Okowa said that he believed that the processes and technology being put in place would help to make it work.
He said that Nigerians should pray and plan for a free process and better improvement with every election that come even before the general elections in 2023.
“The elections that will come before 2023 will be a test to what we can be looking forward to in 2023 and I believe INEC will do its best”.
Okowa disclosed that he would make a broadcast to sensitise the people and various groups in the state, religious leaders and traditional rulers on the ongoing CVR.
He said that the state government would continue to carry out voter education and urged all government functionaries to mobilise their people for the exercise.
“I urge you all to mobilise your people both for the online and in-person registration.
“I can see that INEC is poised to do what is right and I am with the level of transparency that will make Nigerians to trust the process and come out more to vote on the day of election.
“We need to disabuse the minds of Nigerians and the process starts from now to ensure that we now have a credible electoral process,” he said.
The governor expressed worry that the exercise was starting at the local government level and advocated that INEC should move from ward to ward to ensure effective registration of the citizens.
“The cost of traveling particularly in the riverside areas is quite high so if INEC has the intention to be duly registered, there is a need to consider ward to ward movement,” he said.
He appreciated INEC for the way the recent by-election in Isoko North was conducted.
“We have our challenges as a country but in spite of these challenges we have a duty to encourage the people to trust on our electoral process.
“It is good for the country and for the people because when you are able to vote for your choice of leaders there is the tendency that they will be responsive to the people when they know that votes must count,” he said.
Earlier, the REC expressed appreciation to the governor for ensuring security of INEC’s staff and assets during the attacks on government institutions by unknown gunmen.
He said that from July 26, INEC would deploy physical registration for those who could not register through the online facility.
Udoh-Tom said that the Commission was leveraging on high political office holders in the Executive and Legislature, to increase the mileage in the task of mobilising the masses to come out and register.

(NAN)

 

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Politics

Bayesal Guber Poll: INEC Adds Sylva To Candidates’ List After Court Order

Published

3 weeks ago

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November 7, 2023

By

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva
All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate in Bayesal State, Timipre Sylva
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Ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Bayelsa State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has added the name of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timipre Sylva, to the final list of candidates for the poll.

INEC, in the new list published on its website, said the addition of Sylva’s name was in compliance with an Appeal Court judgement delivered on October 31, 2023 which reversed the sacking of Sylva’s candidacy for the poll.

In the new list Sylva’s name was penciled as APC governorship candidate whilst that of Maciver Joshua was written as his running mate.

With the amended list, INEC said, “It may be recalled that the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election was amended on 16th October, 2023 pursuant to the Order of the Federal High Court in Suit No – FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 in respect of the nomination of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election.

“The Court of Appeal in a judgement delivered on 31st October, 2023 in Appeal No – CA/ABJ/CV/1060/2023 set aside the judgement of the lower court cited above.

“By virtue of the provisions of Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Commission is bound to enforce the Orders of Court on nomination of candidates by political parties in the state.

“The list of candidates in respect of the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election is hereby amended in the Amendment No 2 pursuant to the judgement of the Court of Appeal.”

Sylva, a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, and an ex-governor of Bayelsa, is running alongside 15 other contenders including the incumbent governor, Duoye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

On October 10, a Federal High Court in Abuja disqualified Sylva from participating in the state governorship election.

Justice Okorowo ruled that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and served five years as governor of the state, would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.

The judge also declared that Sylva was not qualified to run in the November poll because if he wins and is sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor of the state.

However, the ex-minister appealed the decision of the lower court and the appellate court ruled in his favour last Tuesday.

Sylva was first Bayelsa governor from May 2007 to April 2008 and later between May 2008 and January 2012.

 

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Uzodimma, Sylva, Ododo Receive APC Flags Few Days To Gov Polls

Published

4 weeks ago

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November 3, 2023

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President Bola Tinubu presents the APC flag to Kogi governorship candidate, Ahmed Ododo, at the State House on November 2, 2023.
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Ahead of the November 11 governorship polls in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has presented the party’s flag to its candidates.

Those concerned include incumbent Governor Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), and Ahmed Ododo (Kogi). They received the flags on Thursday from President Bola Tinubu who also doubles as the APC leader.

Addressing the candidates, the President urged them to ensure that the next governorship polls are free, fair, and credible.

Expressing optimism about APC’s chances at the off-cycle election, Tinubu said that the collective efforts of the party officials and supporters, coupled with the track records of the candidates, would see the party through.

Also in attendance at the event were the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje; Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello as well as other party chieftains.

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Bayelsa Poll: INEC Excludes Sylva’s Name From Candidates List

Published

1 month ago

on

October 25, 2023

By

Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources
Timipre Sylva
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has excluded the name of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timipre Sylva, from the final list of candidates ahead of the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

The amended list which was uploaded on the commission’s website on Tuesday was signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

Sighted by Channels Television on Wednesday, the column for the names of the APC candidate and his running mate, Joshua Maciver, was left blank with “court order” remarks on it.

According to Oriaran-Anthony, the action of the commission was in obedience to court orders on the lists, served on the commission.

Recalling that the commission published the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election on June 9 in accordance with the provision of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Election, she said after the publication, INEC was served with an order of court in respect of the nomination of candidate of the APC for the poll.

“By virtue of the provision of Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Commission is bound to enforce the orders of the court on the nomination of candidates by political parties in the state,” Oriaran-Anthony said.

“The Amended list of candidates in respect of the 2023 Bayelsa State governorship election is hereby amended pursuant to the orders of court served on the commission.”

On October 10, the Federal High Court in Abuja disqualified Sylva from participating in the state governorship election.

Justice Okorowo ruled that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and served five years as governor of the state, would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.

The judge also declared that Sylva was not qualified to run in the November poll because if he wins and is sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor of the state.

But the APC in in Bayelsa State said it will appeal the Federal High Court judgment disqualifying Timipre Sylva, its candidate in the forthcoming governorship election.

The Director of Media and Publicity for the APC Bayelsa Governorship Campaign Council, Perry Tukuwei, argued that the suit by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in breach of the Electoral Act.

 

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