POLITICS
Why we Spend so much to Conduct Elections — INEC
![](https://dailyasset.ng/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/download-43.jpg)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday gave an insight into why much funds went into the conduct of elections.
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC Chairman, gave the insight while responding to questions at an interactive session with the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) tagged ‘The Editors’ Forum’ in Lagos.
According to him, cost of logistics, highly-secured ballot papers, allowances for personnel, among other reasons, are responsible for the huge funds used in conducting elections in Nigeria.
“In France, the ballot paper is like an A4 sheet of paper, because it is unthinkable that anybody in France will snatch the ballot paper.
“But here in Nigeria, we print ballots papers in currency quality and we entrust them to Central Bank of Nigeria.
“The ballot papers will now be move with all the protocols and security according to the movement of the national currency, just to protect the process.
“This is not going to be done cheaply. So, we pay for lack of trust in the system,” the INEC boss said.
Yakubu, however, said that Nigeria’s elections were not the most expensive, if the entire cost was spread per head of the voting population, projected to be about 95 million.
He said that the last elections conducted in Ghana, Kenya and Guinea-Bissau were more expensive, if the voters’ population was considered per capita in relation to the cost.
“The cost in Nigeria, I think, is nine dollars per head (N4, 500) as against what happens in other countries. Ours is not even the most expensive.
“The cost of elections in Nigeria in 2023 is N305 billion of the national budget of over N17 trillion.
“The cost of elections is just 1.8 per cent, not even up to two per cent of the national budget.
“If we remove the technology cost, 60 per cent of the cost of elections in Nigeria is spent on logistics and personnel allowances,” he said.
According to him, the commission will engage no fewer than 1.4 million Nigerians for national and state elections as ad hoc staff who will have to be paid and transported to their various locations.
“I am sure as we continue to build trust and confidence in the process, the cost of elections will come down considerably,” Yakubu said.
On electronic voting, Yakubu said that the country was getting closer to achieving it, noting that it involved several processes.
On vote buying, the INEC boss said that fighting the menace required the involvement of all stakeholders.
He said that the commission had taken some steps to stem the tide and make it difficult.
Yakubu reiterated that the commission was committed to electoral justice, reassuring Nigerians that rigging had been made difficult and impossible ahead of the 2023 elections.
Yakubu said that the commission had started cleaning up of voters register, noting that credible elections start with a credible register of voters.
The INEC chairman said that the commission was committed to improving on its delivery of elections.
He, however, pointed out that the quality of elections is a direct reflection of the quality of the environment.
“An election cannot be better than the environment in which it is conducted, which include the security situation, social, economic, political culture, national infrastructure among others.
“It is simply amazing the way INEC officials get to some villages to conduct elections. Our elections cannot be better than the quality of our infrastructure,” he said.
Yakubu said that there were about 161 days to the 2023 general elections, adding that Nigeria could make it work because the commission was committed to electoral justice.
“We have introduced reforms that we believe have taken us out of Egypt and we will never go back,” he said.
While stressing that INEC does not support media censorship, Yakubu called for balanced reporting.
He said that the antidote to fake news was “greater openness and transparency”, which INEC was committed to.
Earlier in his welcome address, Mr Mustapha Isah, the President of NGE, said that Nigerian journalists should be genuinely interested in deepening the democratic space.
Isah said that they played a key role in the fight for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria.
He said that it had become imperative for editors to thoroughly interrogate players in the democratic landscape.
He listed some of these as political actors, candidates vying for elective positions, the electoral umpire, the security agencies, and all other groups involved in monitoring elections.
“This forum is designed to provide the actors an opportunity to address editors about their preparations for the 2023 general elections.
“Editors will also use this forum to seek clarifications on different issues and ask critical questions on matters relating to the elections.
“This is in line with our resolve to bring the right information to the electorate ahead of the elections,” he said.
News men report that the forum had editors from various media organisations in attendance. (NAN)
POLITICS
PDP Crisis: Party Chieftain Faults Kogi State Congress, Seeks Redress in Court
![](https://dailyasset.ng/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/PDP-logo.jpg)
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi State Congress of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) held last Saturday August 31, in Lokoja, has been described as ‘illegal, fraudulent, null and void’.Capt. Joe Agada rtd, who made the declaration at a press briefing in Lokoja, told newsmen that the purported state congress was illegal, lacked credibility and adherence to party guidelines.
Agada maintained that his group had concrete proofs to show that the majority of delegates at the purported congress that allegedly produced, Enemona Ayebe, as state PDP Chairman was characterised with illegality and marred with anomalies. Agada stressed that the basic bloc of the State Congress which is the Three-Man Ad-hoc Ward Delegate Congress where they were supposed to elect 717 delegates in Kogi, purportedly conducted by Rt Hon. Boyelayefa Dabekeme led committee, was marred with grave anomalies and impersonation of Returning officers from FCT, Nassarawa, Imo and Kano States.He insisted that the development compromised the integrity of the ward congress and therefore rendered the entire process null and void.He added that the delegates that allegedly produced Ayebe at the purported State Congress held on August 31, 2024, was marred with impersonation of delegates across all the 21 local government areas of the state.He noted that the guidelines for the conduct of PDP Ward, LGA, State and Zonal Congresses as well as the National Convention in PDP Constitution, for the purpose of selecting party executive committees at all levels, were jettisoned.The PDP chairmanship aspirant stressed that the accreditation at the State congress was highly manipulated and populated with non-statutory delegates across the 21 LGAs of Kogi State.Agada stressed that the PDP should not see the illegality issue as a party internal affairs, but as a matter that would be challenged in Court.According to Agada, the Supreme Court has made a distinction between processes that are called internal affairs of the party, and what the Court can inquire into.”In the 2022 judgement, the Supreme Court affirmed that where an action has not taken place, it is the internal party affairs.”But where an action has taken place, an aggrieved member of the party who has locus and concerned that a bridge of the Constitution of party guidelines has been violated by the party itself, can seek redress in court.”This is why we did not participate in the purported illegal state congress because we have a focus as we have declared our abstinence,” Agada said.He added: “We will approach the Court because the injuries done to our aspirations cannot be compensated by quantum damages in lieu of the financial compensation.”It is an interest that must be protected, hence, the need for the press briefing to alert the general public of the illegality of the kangaroo PDP state congress in Kogi”.Agada noted that the Kogi PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman, Sen. Laal Danjuma; and its Secretary, Philip Gyunka, had written to the INEC, DSS and Police, PDP NWC to notify them of the anomalies that marred the purported state congress.Agada also said that aside the illegality of the congress, the purported elected Kogi PDP Chairman Enemona Anyebe, had been debarred by the PDP Disciplinary Committee in his Ogugu ward 2, from holding any party office due to anti activities.According to Agada, Anyebe was found guilty of participating in anti-part activities by Ogugu ward 2 Disciplinary Committee on May 3, 2019, which was reconfirmed on March 20, 2024, with authentic proof.He stressed that the debarred Ayebe neglected and failed to appeal the disciplinary committee actions until August 31, when the purported state congress was held.Agada emphasised that there was a subsisting Court order restraining Anyebe from holding any party office position or participating in any elective positions at all levels including party ex-officio.”My interest in seeking to become Kogi PDP Chairman is to build the party; it is all about developing the party, and not personal interest like others.”We found this party together and we believe in the objectives of our founding fathers; we will not allow it to die in our hands.”We will approach the Court to stop the PDP National Working Committee from recognizing and ratifying any purported executive that emerged from the illegal congress in Kogi. We will follow this case to its logical conclusion,” Agada said.Agada further accused the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike of using his influence to cause crises in Kogi and 10 other States across the federation during the August 31, PDP State congress, held nationwide.”Wike is the man behind the PDP crisis in Kogi as well as 10 other States across the federation during the August 31, state congresses.”The PDP at national level has not been bold enough to sanction Wike, and one single person is holding the entire party to ransom. Wike is out to weaken and destroy PDP, and he must be stopped now.”I can tell you, if PDP goes the way it is going now, then, forget about PDP in the 2027 general elections,” Agada warned.
POLITICS
INEC Urges CSOs to Scrutinise Political Parties, SIECs
![](https://dailyasset.ng/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/INEC-chairman.jpg)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to extend their scrutiny to the activities of political parties and State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).
CSO’s scrutiny will promote transparency and accountability in electoral processes, deepen democracy and enhance the conduct of local government area elections in Nigeria.
INEC Chairman, Prof.
Mahmood Yakubu, made this appeal when the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, led by its Convener, Mr Yinusa Z Ya’u, visited the commission’s office on Thursday in Abuja.Yakubu commended CSOs’ contributions to improving Nigeria’s electoral democratic process but stressed the need for them to engage other stakeholders to deepen democracy.
“Remember, most of the improvements that you see in the conduct of elections are as a result of the activism of the civil society but sometimes, the civil society is quiet about other elections.”
He emphasised that flawed primary elections and local government elections can undermine the entire electoral process.
“Take the conduct of party primaries for instance. Political parties conduct primary elections and INEC conducts secondary elections.
“So, the most important process is actually the primaries conducted by political parties. It is the candidates they present that we put on the ballot.
“Citizens can only choose from the candidates presented by political parties,” he said.
Yakubu urged CSOs to scrutinise political parties’ primary elections and SIECs’ conduct of local government elections, as these have a direct impact on the quality of candidates and the electoral process.
“Elections are conducted at the local government level by the SIECs and they declare all the candidates of the ruling party winners. Yet, we don’t hear anything from the civil society.
“At INEC, we appreciate constructive criticisms. It is an ingredient for change. But we want all the components of elections to be alright.
“We cannot have one component going right and another going another way.”
The Team Leader of the Civil Society Situation Room, Yau, noted that his organisation shares a common interest with INEC in consolidating democracy and conducting elections in Nigeria.
He highlighted the group’s efforts in mobilising citizens for Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) collection and promoting peaceful polls in Edo.
Yau also affirmed the group’s commitment to urging political parties to play by the rules and not undermine the electoral process.
NAN)
POLITICS
TDF Faults NLC Over Tinubu’s Purported Betrayal on Fuel Price
![](https://dailyasset.ng/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/NLC.jpg)
The Democratic Front (TDF) has faulted the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over claims that President Bola Tinubu betrayed or deceived them on fuel price to arrive at the N70,000 minimum wage.
TDF added that Labour and government mutually negotiated and agreed on the minimum wage.
Malam Danjuma Muhammad, the Chairman of TDF, said this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.
He said the President could not have been emphatic and decisive on the pump price of fuel in a deregulated market.
He said: “We are disappointed with the often repeated wrong postulations of the Joe Ajaero-led NLC against the government and person of President Tinubu”.
He added that most of what the NLC said could not add up, stressing that the negotiation of the minimum wage was never debated as a condition on how much fuel would be sold.
He said that Tinubu never hid his desire or pretended over his preference to make the ideals and philosophy of a liberal free-market economy the focal point of his economic transformation agenda
“As a matter of fact, he announced an end to the age long petroleum subsidy regime in an unprecedented fashion during his inaugural speech on May 29, 2023.
This, according to him, is to herald commencement of the end of state-controlled economic policies and protectionism in the Nigeria investment ecosystem.
He said, that he believed that Tinubu would not, for whatever reason, give personal guarantee or assurance to anybody or group, on a specific price of fuel in Nigeria.
He added that the President knew that in the absence of government subsidy, such prices were solely determined by the unpredictable dynamics of market forces.
“We, therefore, view the accusations against Tinubu by Ajaero as untrue and a ridiculous attempt to blackmail the President.
” We understandably note that the withdrawal of fuel subsidy by the government has compelled the NNPCL to respond to the dictates of market forces.”
This, according to him, is in order to cope with the logistics of importing refined petroleum into the country.
” The increase in the pump price is to accommodate the landing cost of the product.”
He said that TDF expected fuel price to crash with the expected infusion of locally refined fuel from Dangote Refinery into the Nigerian market.(NAN