Skip to main content

ELECTION 2019: INEC Replies Oshiomhole, Insists APC Won’t Participate In Zamfara Elections

2019: INEC replies Oshiomhole, insists APC won't participate in Zamfara elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it stands by its statement that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not field candidates for the 2019 general elections in Zamfara.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this on the sideline of the opening of a two-day validation workshop titled “Study on the cost of elections in ECOWAS Region” on Monday in Abuja.

“We have issued a statement on Zamfara and nothing has changed. We stand by the statement that we issued,” he said.

Yakubu re-emphasised that the deadline for submission of party candidates’ name to the commission was Oct 18, saying that it would give a full report on that after Nov. 18.

INEC had informed the ruling APC in a leaked memo that it would not be allowed to field candidates for elective positions in Zamfara in the 2019 elections.

The commission’s acting Secretary, Okechukwe Ndeche, in a letter to the APC said that the party was barred from fielding candidates for governorship, national assembly and state assembly elections.

The commission said this was because APC failed to comply with Sections 87 and 31 of the Electoral Act of 2010.

Parties, according to the act, were expected to comply with the timetable and schedule of INEC, which says that the conduct of primaries must be held between Aug. 18 and Oct. 7.

INEC said it received reports from its Zamfara office, indicating that no primaries were conducted in the state “notwithstanding that our officials were fully mobilised and deployed.”

The APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, later responded to INEC in a statement and said that the party had already arrived at a consensus before the deadline.

Oshiomhole said that following the high level of friction, disagreements and threats of violence by various political camps before the primaries, all the aspirants met at City King Hotel, Gusau, to find a truce.

“After hours of intense horse-trading, a consensus was reached within the spirit and context of the electoral act and the constitution of our party.

“This was done in strict compliance with Section 87 (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended),” he said.

He said that the claim by INEC that no primaries were conducted could only be referring to its officials’ observation that actual voting did not take place.

The APC chairman said that conduct of primaries was not the only mode prescribed for producing candidates in the electoral act, 2010 (as amended).

“We, therefore, affirm that indeed, primaries took place in Zamfara State,” Oshiomhole said.

The party chairman also noted that PDP had similar issues in Kano State and wondered why INEC did not bar the opposition party from fielding candidates.

Yakubu further said that the commission would by the end of November print the outstanding Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

“We have printed the PVCs for those who registered in the first quarter of 2018. We are right now simultaneously printing for those who registered in the second and third quarters.

“We are looking at the end of November for all the PVCs to be printed including the request for transfer and relocation.

“Let me just repeat the assurance that every citizen that registered and who have applied for transfer or replacement will get his or her PVC before 2019 general elections.”

He, however, said that the commission had stopped every registration, request for transfer and replacement of damaged PVCs.



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

EDO GUBER ELECTION: Omo-Agege, Faith Majemite, Others Appointed Into APC National Campaign Council

Ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) unveiled a 197-member council on Wednesday to lead its campaign. According to the list released by APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has been appointed as the chairman of the campaign council. Governor Otu will be supported by Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda as co-chairman and former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole as deputy chairman. Other members of the 197-member team include Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who will serve as Assistant Secretary; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Hon. Faith Majemite; and other governors elected on the APC platform. The recently reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo, Philip Shaibu, who recently defecte...

IBORI PARDON IN SIGHT? FG Inaugurates Presidential Committee On Prerogative of Mercy

Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government of Nigeria has inaugurated a 12-member Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM), tasked with recommending individuals eligible for presidential pardons from criminal convictions. The committee, chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, was inaugurated on Wednesday. It has a four-year tenure and includes members drawn from various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), as well as representatives from religious bodies and four eminent Nigerians. Among the notable appointees are Justice Augustine Utsaha, Prof. Alkasum Abba, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi (SAN), and Prof. Nike Sidikat Ijaiya. The Permanent Secretary for Special Duties and Governmental Affairs will also serve as a key member, while the director for special duties and intergovernmental affairs will act as the committee’s secretary. During the inauguration, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)...

GOVERNOR OBOREVWORI APPOINTS OSEJI AS DELTA HEAD OF SERVICE

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has approved the appointment of Dr. (Mrs.) Minimim Oseji as the new Head of Service. Her appointment follows the retirement of Mr. Reginald Bayoko, who served in the position for nearly nine years. Dr. Oseji, a medical doctor, was previously the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and had also served as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health. In 2020, she was elected as the 22nd National President of the Medical Women's Association of Nigeria (MWAN). The newly appointed Head of Service is scheduled to be sworn in on Monday, March 31, 2025. Mr. Charles Aniagwu, MNIPR Hon. Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information