The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Screening Committee on 2014 Ekiti Gubernatorial Election led by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba has released the result of its screening exercise.
Of the 16 gubernatorial aspirants, 13 were cleared while 3 were denied clearance to partake in the party primaries that will eventually present a candidate for the party in the upcoming election in the state.
Among those cleared include a former governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose. Mr. Fayose is currently facing charges of corruption proffered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Also cleared was Bodunde Adeyanju, an aide to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was a central figure accused in the Halliburton scam for passing bribes to the former President and top People Democratic Party leaders.
A former minister of police affairs, Caleb Olukolade was also cleared.
Below is the full list of candidates cleared by the screening committee:
1. Amb. Oluwadare Bejide
2. Navy Capt. Olubolade Caleb (Rtd)
3. Prince Adedayo Adeyeye
4. Ayodele Fayose
5. Adeyanju Bodunde Sunday
6. Erelu M. Ogundepe
7. Jacob Abiodun Aluko
8. Adewale Aribisala
9. Oladeji J. A. Omoyeni
10. Sen. Olugbenga Aluko
11. Oluropo Ogunbolude
12. Dr. Omolara Adubiaro
13. Ajayi Ayodeji Eldad
However, Bosede Cecilia Dada, Senator Bode Olowoporuko and Peter Obafemi were not cleared to partake in the state primaries
The result of the screening shows that Bosede Cecilia Dada presented no evidence of payment of party membership dues, no West African School Certificate and no tax clearance certificate.
The mapping of the polling units was necessitated by the disheartening information obtained from election observer reports that some electoral officials find it very difficult to locate the polling units to which they are posted to conduct elections. This results in the lateness of the officers
The polling units have been graphically represented on a map on the NigeriaDecide website to ensure that anyone who needs to locate any polling unit in Nigeria will be able to do so easily as the polling units are represented with the features that uniquely identify the place also shown around the area. The map can be panned in all directions to get more of the features in the area surrounding the polling unit.
This map will be a very useful tool for electoral officers (who sometimes are not informed of their postings until about a week before the Election Day) as well as voters and election observers to locate and get directions to their polling unit of interest. In addition, voters can locate the polling units nearest to their residence and choose the most accessible and convenient one to vote in.
NigeriaDecide is a platform intended to collate election results exactly as announced in each polling unit across the nation and transfer them to a safe and secure server where everyone can view the results online. This is to ensure anyone and everyone can have a picture of the results that are expected to be announced by the electoral monitoring body. This will help to have an idea of where the discrepancies occurred and the appropriate quarters can be challenged concerning the published results.
To register on the platform, SMS “polling unit number” e.g. 05/07/09/008 to 09037346541. You will immediately receive a registration confirmation alert on your phone.
It does not take rocket science to be convinced that a large percentage, if not all, of the elections in the past in Nigeria have in one way or another been adulterated. Although the general populace does not know what exactly is responsible for these heinous actions, whether the electoral body’s incompetence or dishonesty or the criminal actions of political parties and their cronies, it cannot be overemphasized that some measures have to be put in place to ensure the integrity of the electoral process is no longer compromised and that announced election results reflect the people’s choices.
In view of these past, and sadly normal occurrences of irregularities and jeopardy in the electoral processes that Nigeria has experienced in the previous elections, a platform NigeriaDecide has been developed to monitor election and ensure the integrity of election results. NigeriaDecide is a platform intended to collate the results exactly as announced in each polling unit across the nation and transfer them to a safe and secure server where everyone can view the results online. This is to ensure anyone and everyone can have a picture of the results that are expected to be announced by the electoral monitoring body. This will help to have an idea of where the discrepancies occurred and the appropriate quarters can be challenged concerning the published results.
This requires that everybody be interested in making sure that their choices in the elections are not over-ruled by some unpleasant elements in the polity. In this wise, there is a need for all to be actively involved in the process – from voter’s registration right through to the election results announcement.
The effectiveness of the NigeriaDecide platform depends on the active participation of concerned Nigerians in the electoral process. Thiswill require the submission of the results announced in each polling unit by SMS to the NigeriaDecide platform for it to be collated and secured on the server. There are over 120,025 (one hundred and twenty thousand and twenty-five) polling units in Nigeria, so there needs to be active involvement of concerned Nigerians for this undertaking to be accomplished and to cover all polling and the results from each polling unit, so that the interests of all Nigerians are equally represented (at least 120,025 people are needed).
To be part of this election monitoring platform, you must be registered to vote (you will need the polling unit number on your voter’s card to register on the NigeriaDecide platform).
To register on the platform, SMS “polling unit number” e.g. 05/07/09/008 to 09037346541. You will immediately receive a registration confirmation alert on your phone.
Then on the election day, to send in election results announced at the polling unit, SMS the announced results for your polling unit in this specified format e.g. aa500 apc503 acd512 pdp503 and send to 09037346541.
The NigeriaDecide platform is powered by CloudWare Technologies, an innovative technological solutions provider that provides appropriate technological measures to meet Africa’s pressing needs. CloudWare Technologies’ client base ranges from individuals to corporate establishment, federal government and international organizations.
INEC, last week, released to the public the method by which the long-awaited Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) will be reeled out to the voting population.
Here is the content of the document INEC released for the process:
INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC)
Guidelines For Permanent Voter Card Distribution 2014
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Guidelines made pursuant to section 16 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended). Issuance of voters’ Cards is the responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission. The proprietary right in the voters’ cards is vested in INEC.
2.0 ABOUT THE PVC
Smart card-based Voter ID;
Stores voter’s information such as bio-data, biometrics and facial image;
The card technology provides adequate security features to reduce vulnerability to counterfeiting
The PVC shall be used for identification and authentication of voters during elections
3.0 WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO COLLECT PVC?
A person is eligible to collect PVC if he/she :-
has registered before
is in the register of voters displayed.
has a temporary voter card (TVC)
has lost his/her TVC but his/her identity can be confirmed.
Is physically present at the collection centre. There shall be no collection of PVC by proxy.
4.0 WHERE TO COLLECT PVC
PVC distribution will be at the Polling Unit.
Those who are unable to collect their PVC during the specified period shall, therefore, collect theirs from the INEC office in the LGA.
5.0 HOURS OF COLLECTION
The PVC distribution will take place at designated venues between the hours of 8.00am to 4.00pm for the specified period.
6.0 Guidelines for the distribution of PVC
6.1 The Electoral Officer
The Electoral Officer shall be in charge of the Local Government Area and shall coordinate all the activities in the local government area, with the assistance of the Assistant Electoral Officer(s) (AEO).
The Electoral Officer shall ensure that:
The PVCs are arranged according to their RA and polling units.
The PVCs are arranged in alphabetical order.
Each distribution center /polling unit is manned by the Distribution Officer (DO).
DOs should be competent in handling questions concerning the pre-CVR display.
6.2 The Supervisory Distribution Officer (SDO)
The SDO shall manage a registration area and all the polling units within the registration area, supervises the distribution officers and also performs the following tasks:
Collects the PVCs by RA/polling units at the LGA office
He/She makes sure there are PVC cards for all PUs in his/her RA.
Signs for the collection of these cards.
Distributes PVC cards to the DOs.
Distributes daily distribution report forms to the DOs.
Distributes Electronic Voter Register (EVR) for display to the DOs.
Distributes Electronic Voter Register (EVR) for distribution to DOs.
Goes round the PUs to ensure:
that the Electronic Voter Register (EVR) is displayed
that the DOs are working
that the distribution is going on as scheduled and planned.
Collects the daily report forms at the end of the day
Ensures the security of all materials collected.
Submits the daily report forms at the end of the day to the Electoral Officer.
Retrieves all materials from the DOs at the end of the exercise.
Returns all materials to the L.G.A at the end of the exercise.
Provides technical support to the DOs.
Reports all activities at the RA to the E.O.
6.3 Distribution Officer
This officer takes custody of the PVC cards
Pastes the register of voters for display at the PU and makes sure it is on display for the period of the distribution.
Checks and confirms that the prospective voter is in the distribution register of voters.
If the name of the prospective voter is found on the distribution register of voters, he/she shall search through the PVC cards for his/her PVC.
He/she requests prospective voter to thumbprint and sign the PVC collection section of the distribution register of voters.
Retrieves the TVC from the prospective voter and hands over to prospective voter his/her PVC
Where the prospective voter does not have a TVC, the prospective voter is made to sign an attestation form and affix his/her passport photograph.
If the prospective voter is suspected to be under-age, his/her PVC shall be retained at the LGA office.
Makes sure that the retrieved TVCs are properly stored and secure in the bag provided.
At the end of each day he/she will make sure that the number of PVCs signed for equals the number of PVCs he/she has handed over to prospective voters.
Completes the card issuance daily report and makes sure that the report tally
6.4 Security Agents
A Security Agent is any person duly assigned to a polling unit from the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) or Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) or any other Security Agency mandated to enforce and maintain law and order throughout the exercise.
There shall be only one security agent assigned to each PU (unless a security assessment recommends more than one)
The security agent assigned shall be responsible for security, law and order at the PU
He/she shall be responsible for security and protection of the Distribution officer, materials and equipment at the PU.
A lot of activity has been going on concerning the coming elections. Political parties are jostling and strategising and preparations are surfacing all over the place. As all these activities are going on, the Independent National Electoral Commission is also preparing for her officiating responsibilities. In order to ensure that all possible angles are well covered. the commission has started the registration of election observers.
Election observers are people that go the polling units on election day and observe the conduct of the exercise. they then later give a detailed report of how the exercise went with advices and/or suggestions on how the difficulties can be overcome in subsequent elections.
Election observers are usually volunteers (individuals or organisations) or government agencies from across the globe that are concerned about the state of governance and democracy. INEC will encourage Observers to verify the success and limitations of these arrangements. While INEC is the only body legally empowered to monitor elections in Nigeria, Observers are essential in verifying that voters exercise their franchise in an environment of freedom and fairness, free from coercion, intimidation or violence. They are also to witness whether or not the results announced fairly reflect the votes counted. INEC has made arrangements for proper and efficient accreditation of Observers to facilitate their ease of movement around the country before, during and after, the elections. A Unit has been created to liaise with and ensure hitch-free accreditation and facilitation for Observers.
The South-South Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party has told President Goodluck Jonathan that now is the most appropriate time for him to declare his ambition for a second term in 2015. The forum said this on Tuesday in Lagos at an event to canvass support for the President’s second term ambition.
The PDP chairman in Lagos State, Mr. Olatunji Shelle; former Minister of Works, Chief Adeseye Ogunlewe; and others at the occasion also called on members of the forum in the state to vote for the PDP in both the presidential and governorship elections next year.
Jonathan has remained silent on whether he would seek second term in office or not but analysts have said that the President’s body language has shown clearly that he would seek another term in office during the 2015 general elections. He said during his media chat on Monday that making a declaration of his ambition at the moment could create problems in the polity. But the South-South PDP Forum on Tuesday urged the President to take advantage of his “record-breaking achievement of convening a national conference,” to declare his desire for second term.
Chairman of the forum’s Board of Trustees, Chief Vincent Amadi, said, “My charge to us is to do everything possible to make the national conference a success by encouraging the President and urging him on positively. More importantly, he should seize the moment and take full advantage of his constitutional right as a first term President. Consequently, there couldn’t be a better time for him to declare for second term in the office than now. This will enable him to kickstart and pilot the implementation of the declarations at the national conference.”
Chairman of the forum, Mr. Sunday Ekanem, who said Jonathan was deserving of being voted for second term, also expressed the determination of the forum to ensure that the PDP wins the governorship election in Lagos State in 2015.
Ekanem said, “South-South PDP is not only concerned about President Goodluck Jonathan and his victory but also the general success of the party at the polls in Lagos. Therefore, we want to place here on record that we have resolved to work tirelessly to ensure the enthronement of PDP at Alausa come 2015.”
Shelle said those who defected from the party were those who did not want Jonathan to achieve his second term ambition.
“Those who don’t want the President’s second term to be possible have left the party. Many who left are also coming back. Before the end of the year, we are going to open the floodgate of membership in the state,” Shelle said.
The All Progressives Congress on Sunday warned the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Police not to stop its members from campaigning for the 2015 elections, should they decide to start now.
APC Interim National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed
The party said the warning became necessary in the light of what it said was the go-ahead given to President Goodluck Jonathan andthe ruling Peoples Democratic Party, to begin a nationwide campaign well ahead of time.
Interim National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this in a telephone interview, with one of our correspondents in Abuja. He explained that the party had over the last few weeks drawn the attention of all government agencies as well as INEC, to the fact that President Jonathan had been in the forefront of those flouting the electoral body’s guidelines on election campaigns. Mohammed said by going round the country to hold campaign rallies and making clear campaign promises, the President had destroyed the moral authority of INEC or the police to enforce any law with respect to the elections.
He said, “I can assure you, we will demand equal treatment and since Mr. President can be allowed to go and campaign in Sokoto, to go and campaign in Owerri then we are sounding a notice to both INEC and Police that any attempt to deprive us of similar opportunities will be met with consequences. We have been trying to draw the attention of everybody it started with Bauchi, then Sokoto from Sokoto to Owerri and this is the President of Nigeria who is supposed to be an embodiment of the rule of law. In the interest of peace, fairness and equity, INEC should not disturb us whenever we also start our campaign.”
The party explained that one did not need to be a rocket scientist to know that what the President was doing was campaign. It said it would not have been so disturbed if it were to be just PDP chieftains violating INEC regulations, but that when the President of the country who swore to uphold the rule of law and the constitution was “at the head of this kind of shenanigans then its spells doom for the country.”
In separate interviews with one of our correspondents, civil society organisations under the aegis of the Partners for Electoral Reform, have asked INEC to inspire confidence in Nigerians as the nation approaches 2015.
Members of the coalition include — Centre for Policy Advocacy and Leadership Development; Forward in Action for Education, Poverty and Malnutrition; Trade Union Congress of Nigeria; and Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement.
The chairman of PER and Convener of Say No Campaign (Nigeria), Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu, said the PDP was clearly violating INEC provisions with respect to electoral campaigns with its state rallies.
He said, “We keep making the point that the Electoral management body, INEC must conduct itself in a manner that inspires confidence in the electorate ahead of the 2015 general elections by manifestly and effectively policing every aspect of elections and electoral process. On the other hand the position party (PDP) cannot continue to act with impunity by finding dubious ingenious ways to infract on the laws of the land.”
The Executive Secretary of Anti-Corruption Network and a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dino Melaye, said the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega should resign because INEC was behaving like a parastatal of the PDP. “INEC is a parastatal of the PDP. They cannot question their masters. We will be ready to fight INEC in 2015. JEGA should resign. He is not capable of conducting a free and fair election,” he alleged.
Also speaking, a legal practitioner and civil rights activist, Mr. Ebun Olu- Adegboruwa, said “As the electoral umpire, INEC must provide a level playing ground for all the parties, treat them equally and give a sense of belonging to all the parties.”
In an interview with journalists, the Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, speaking on the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party mentioned that the party is a truly national one whose actions concern every Nigerian.
Alhaji Ibrahim Shema – Governor of Katsina State
When asked if he considered the actions of the PDP National chairman as effective in resolving the issues rocking the party, a result of which led to the defection of som of his colleagues to the APC, he said: “We have our challenges. That is not to say other parties don’t have challenges. The reason why people see our own is because of our size and in politics, size does matter. It is always easy to talk about differences in political parties, or any organisation. What people fail to realise is that the PDP has succeeded tremendously in Nigeria since 1999.
First of all, in capturing and retaining power, the party has succeeded in the first transition, from one civil rule to the other. I know PDP belongs to Nigerians and that is why everybody talks about PDP, even non-party members, who belong to the opposition political parties. Because it is truly a Nigerian party, every Nigerian thinks PDP is his own. Unlike other parties where you can say Mr. A. owns this party or that party belongs to group A, but PDP really belongs to Nigerians. It is truly a national party; that’s why whatever affects PDP, affects Nigeria; even the opposition talks about PDP, even you journalists, as if you belong to that party, you are worried about what we do. It is because it is truly a national party.
On the challenges we are facing over defection, I am sure you are aware of the efforts made by Mr. President to make sure that they (five governors) didn’t leave the party, to change the tide of those who wanted to leave. Even in a family there is bound to be a quarrel but to resolve the issues maturely is the way of the PDP.
Look at the issues of the resignation of our former chairman, Bamanga Tukur. At the end of the day, PDP is the only party in Nigeria where a party chairman can resign and another one steps in without rancor and breaking of heads. I don’t know of any other party in Nigeria that does this except PDP. Hope is not lost on the question of reconciliation. We can reach out and reconcile with those people. Of course, politics is a voluntary business.
Those who don’t want to belong to PDP, I am sure they have their reasons why they don’t want to belong to PDP, but as they are leaving, let me assure you that others will be moving in. That’s politics. In fact, there are those who left PDP, who rushed back.
It will be in the interest of Nigeria if PDP continues to do what it is doing, to stabilise Nigeria. You people know the situation of this country in 1998. It is the emergence of PDP that was probably the saving grace of our nation that helped to put the nation back to the path of peace and harmony.”
Ambassador Gabriel Chukwuma Oyibode is the founder and chairman of Amb. Gabriel Chukwuma Etaoghenevwegba Oyibode foundation. In this interview urged the Nigerian populace to support President Goodluck Jonathan.
Ambassador Gabriel Oyibode
When asked about his view of the statement released by
Alhaji Adamu Muazu, the new PDP chairman, that the five defected Governors should come back to PDP, he said, ”
It’s a good stride, I also urge the defected governors and party members to come back to PDP if possible; a kingdom that is divided against itself cannot stand. Therefore there is an absolute need for reconciliation. The Nigerian state is a project instituted by God.
Nigerians should eschew violence and politics of bitterness and seek peace for sustainable development. Everybody must realize that we need to build a united country because what we have now is an agglomeration of nation states. There is strength in unity. Therefore, we should all put aside our racial differences and ethnicities and pursue a common goal.”
Frictions had long been expected in many state chapters of the All Progressives Congress, APC as a result of the melting of strange elements. While many other states are still containing their issues, the frictions in Nasarawa State seem unending.
APC Interim Chairman in Nasarawa, Architect Stanley Buba
The first sign of crisis in the newly formed All Progressives Congress, APC in Nasarawa State was not long in coming. It came on the waves of the recently conducted primary elections for the nomination of party candidates for the forthcoming local government elections.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Screening Committee on 2014 Ekiti Gubernatorial Election led by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba has released the result of its screening exercise.
