*Commission cautions state govts against attack, denial of campaign venue to opposition
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has, again dismissed claims in some quarters thst the commission is under pressure to jettison the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Results Viewing (IReV) portal for the purposes of voter accreditation and results transmission ahead of the 2023 general election
The Chairman of INEC, professor Mahmoud Yakubu, renewed the assurance during his opening remarks at the Training of Master Trainers on Election Technology for the 2023 general elections on Tuesday in Abuja
The INEC boss, who described the workshop as one of the most important training activities ahead of the 2023 General Election, noted that the Commission has increased the deployment of technology in the elections in Nigeria since the last two years
He added that the systems and portals have been designed and developed to cater for different electoral activities ranging from voter registration and accreditation, result transmission from the polling units, the nomination of candidates by political parties to the accreditation of polling agents, observers and journalists for elections.
“Accreditation System (BVAS) which doubles as a device for accreditation as well as the upload of the Polling Unit level result sheets to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal in real-time on election day. These innovations have increased transparency and public confidence in the electoral process. They are also part of the legal requirements for conducting elections in Nigeria. The combination of the BVAS and the IReV portal have come to stay as a means of voter accreditation and transmission of election results.
“From the experience of recent off-cycle elections, the Commission is convinced that a critical success factor in the deployment of technology in elections is training. We need to build the capacity of the staff involved not only to competently handle the devices during the accreditation process but also respond effectively to any glitches that may occur during elections.
“Our plan for the 2023 General Election is to commence the training of election officials early and for a longer period of time for optimal understanding of the processes and procedures in order to serve Nigerians better. A key component of this effort is election technology.
“Today, we begin the process with the training of master trainers to serve as Registration Area Technical Support (RATECH). A total of 82 officials drawn from our offices nationwide will form the nucleus of the training. Over the next three days, they will receive intensive hands-on training on the new technology. Thereafter, they will train more officials at zonal level to cover all the 8,809 Registration Areas (or Wards). In turn, these officials will be involved in the training ad hoc staff for the 176,846 Polling Units nationwide.
“I urge the 82 staff involved to pay special attention to the training that you will receive at this Workshop. Your role as master trainers is critical to the success of training at subsequent levels and ultimately the successful deployment of the devices during elections. For this reason, the Commission will not accept laxity on your part. Much as we have confidence in your ability to understand and discharge your responsibilities to the officials you will subsequently train, there will be consequences for unethical behaviour or any act of misconduct. I wish you a successful training.”
The commission expressed concerns over reports of clashes among parties and their supporters in some States during the ongoing electioneering campaign describing such as worrisome.
“So too is the reported denial of access to public facilities for parties and candidates in some States of the Federation. Let me caution parties and their supporters to focus on issues and steer clear of attacks on each other. These are not only violations of the Electoral Act 2022 but also negate the voluntary commitment by all political parties and candidates to the letter and spirit of the Peace Accord signed about three weeks ago under the auspices of the National Peace Committee (NPC).
“Parties, candidates and their supporters should not by acts of commission or omission further complicate the prevailing security situation in the country. A peaceful electioneering campaign is critical to the conduct of peaceful and credible elections.
“The Commission will continue to monitor the situation closely and will convene a meeting with leaders of political parties next week to discuss, among the other issues, the imperative of peaceful campaigns and equal access to public facilities.”
In his remarks, the Director for International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES), Dr Seray Jah describe the workshop as the capacity training that would enhance the credibility and integrity of the electoral process.
According to him, “Particularly significant are the Electronic Voters Register (EVR), Permanent Voters Card (PVC), Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) which are the determinants of the true winner of an election: they ensure that every valid vote counting “
Obi denies arresting, detaining El’rufai in 2013
Presidential candidate of Labour Party, (LP)Peter Obi has denied claims by Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El’rufai Rufai that he ordered his arrest and detention while he was in 2013, during the Anambra state governorship election of thst year
El-Rufai had stated during an interactive session at the just concluded Stewart Joint Committee in Kaduna on Monday, claimed that he was arrested for 48 hours in Anambra state when he (Obi) was Governor in 2013.
El-Rufai stated that incident happened when Obi was seeking a second term in office, then on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)
He said, “In 2013, I went to Anambra State as an official of the APC to witness the bye-election for governorship.
“Your next guest, Peter Obi, as Governor, got me arrested and detained for 48 hours in my hotel room.
“Now I’m the Governor of Kaduna State and he’s coming to Kaduna.
“In addition to the Police and the State Secret Service, I have one Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army here, if I need to arrest and detain anyone.
“But we are northerners, we are civilized. We don’t do things like that.
“I wish you all safe journey back to your destinations,” he said
Denying the allegations, Obi said, “There’s no way, I can do that. I never ordered any AIG to arrest or detain anybody. I had the best ADC, the best policeman in Nigeria. He is from Kano.
Obi stated further that “The Police Commissioner that was there then was from Adamawa. The AIG in that election was from Nasarawa, strictly Nasarawa from the North. Tell me how I will use my power to issue order for somebody to be detained.?
“There is no way I can do that, I didn’t ask anyone to do that, as Governor of Anambra State,” he said.
NNPP NWC wades into party’s South West crisis
The national leadership of opposition Mew Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP)
has sued for peace among the warring faction in the party’s South West zonal executive
The NNPP stated while addressing the media on Monday on the development in the party, that it has noted some misunderstandings among the leaders of the party in the South West zone, leading to suspension of some zonal and state Executives.
Addressing the media at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, National chairman of the NNPP, professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali, said the leadership of the party has resolved that all feuding parties should eschew bitterness and embrace peace for the sake of the greater good of the party, adding that the suspension of the Executive members has been reversed to status quo ante bellum.
“That the National Working Committee has set up a peace and reconciliation Committee to immediately meet with all the aggrieved parties at Lagos to listen to their grievances and amicably resolve the differences.
*The leadership of the NNPP is using this medium to call on all its members particularly in the South West to remain calm as all their grievances will be properly addressed to bring everlasting peace and harmonious relationship among members of the NNPP”
The national chairman also disclosed that the party will soon release its Timetable for the campaign that will take its Presidential Candidate, His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to all the nooks and corners of the country.
According to him, “one incontrovertible fact is that His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is the best and the most qualified among those contesting for the number one position in the country. His performance in all the positions he had held is second to none.
“He is ready to replicate all the past achievements at the Presidency level if elected into office in 2023. Education, Health, Housing, Huma capital development. He had made indelible marks in all these areas and many more. His records speak for him. This is the icon that the NNPP is offering Nigeria.
“We promise to run an issue-based campaign. We are not going to engage in abuses. Our supporters all over the country are under instruction not to engage in negative campaign or violence. We will adhere strictly to the words and letters of the Peace Accord signed last month. But we call others not to take us for granted and try to undermine our campaign activities, ” Professor Alkali stated
