COVER
INEC Ready for Saturday Polls, Distributes Sensitive Materials ..
From David Torough (Makurdi), Sylvia Udegbunam (Enugu), Anthony Nwachukwu (Lagos)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as at yesterday, distributed sensitive materials for the Saturday Governorship and State Assembly elections to almost all the affected areas across the states of the federation.
The elections, earlier scheduled for Saturday 11 March, were rescheduled for Saturday March 18, to provide adequate time for the Commission to reconfigure the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
The electoral body, yesterday started the process of distributing sensitive materials across the 23 local government areas of Benue State.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in the state, Prof. Samuel Egwu disclosed this to newsmen shortly after taking delivery of the sensitive materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Makurdi office for the March 18th governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
He said that the materials were handed over publicly in order to showcase the transparency of the commission and called on the various political parties to corporate with the commission to ensure a smooth exercise.
“Let me also say that these materials when they leave here, they go to the 23 local governments where we have also kept the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) that we used in the last elections and political parties would be allowed to check the number of BVAS that we have also kept there where they have since been reconfigured for the next elections because, that is another critical material in this election so, nobody will leave any fairy tales that INEC is able to handover either ballot papers or BVAS to any political party,” Egwu said.
The Electoral boss added that the essence for reconfiguring the BVAS was to enable the BVAS recognize the new date and time for the governorship and assembly elections saying, “Once used for a particular election, you need to purge the BVAS to be able to used for the next elections. It is of purging and then, putting new date on the BVAS that is the whole process of configuring because BVAS are configured to time and to date,” Egwu added.
Branch Controller, CBN, Saidu Nasir who was represented by the principal manager of the apex of the Makurdi office, Enato Habbib said that the elections materials which were customized according to the local government were kept in a safe and secure environment before handing over to the INEC.
On their part, Legal adviser to the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), Barrister Terah Mue and State Organizing Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. James Ornguga all expressed satisfaction at the level of transparency by the Electoral body in the state so far and sued for its sustainability.
The materials were handed over in the presence of the various political parties, INEC management team, election observers and newsmen as they were also allowed to inspect the materials.
Also yesterday, INEC said has concluded arrangement for a hitch-free Governorship and State Assembly polls as well as rescheduled Enugu East Senatorial Zone poll on March 18 in Enugu State.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Enugu State, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, announced the readiness of the commission at a news conference in Enugu yesterday.
Chukwu said that the conference was to inform the electorate in the state about the commission’s preparedness to conduct a peaceful, hitch-free, credible and fair election on March 18.
He noted that that INEC in Enugu State had received sensitive materials from its national headquarters at the beginning of the week, saying that the materials were all stored and kept safe at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Enugu branch.
According to him, INEC officials (on Monday) and heads of security agencies (on Tuesday) have gone to inspect the sensitive materials and all have testified that the sensitive materials are still intact.
“INEC Enugu will start moving the sensitive materials to its local government area offices on Thursday, March 16, from the CBN in presence of security personnel and political party representatives and the media.
“On Friday, March, 17; the same sensitive materials will be moved from the local government area offices to the various Registration Area Centres (RAC) in the presence of security personnel, political party agents and the media.
“At the RAC, the sensitive materials and other non-sensitive materials will be sorted out and ready for upward movement to the 4,145 polling units across the state on or before 8 a.m. on Saturday; since voting will start 8:30 a.m. on the dot on March 18,” he said.
Chukwu noted that the commission had completed the reconfiguring of 4,145 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, meant for the March 18 polls, a day ago.
“They are ready for the commission to deploy them simultaneously as the other sensitive materials are moving to the designated polling units on the election day,” he said.
The electoral commissioner said that he had received concrete assurances from security agencies of their readiness and pro-active deployment of their personnel for the election.
“In our last Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting; the commission received overwhelming assurances that security will be water-tight on the election day and that security agencies have made all necessary manpower deployment,” he said.
Chukwu said that he had met with the transport unions’ leaders with their executives and drivers and they had assured that there would be no hitch.
“The transporters clearly told INEC management staff that the failure that occurred in the Feb. 25 polls will never repeats itself again,” he said.
He said that the commission would conclude all its retraining and refresher training for all ad-hoc staff – presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, supervisors, collation officers and returning officers by Friday morning, March 17 and all duly posted immediately.
Chukwu said that INEC would be conducting election in 4,145 polling units in 260 Registration Areas (or political wards) and 17 local government areas of the state.
“So the elections will be for the governorship, 24 state constituency offices as well as the rescheduled Enugu East Senatorial Zone due to the death of one of the candidates in the earlier election on Feb. 22,” he explained.
In Lagos, our correspondent reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State has commenced movement of sensitive materials to be used for Governorship and House of Assembly elections to various local government areas of the state.
INEC took delivery of the sensitive materials (ballot papers and results sheets) from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday.
The exercise, led by the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos state, Mr Olusegun Agbaje and Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, CP Idowu Owohunwa, was monitored by various stakeholders.
INEC Electoral Officers from the 20 local government areas were on ground to move the materials to their respective local government area offices in the state.
Speaking to newsmen, Agbaje, who noted that INEC was ready to conduct free, fair and credible elections on Saturday, called for cooperation and support of stakeholders.
According to him, the sensitive materials are secured and intact for every stakeholder to see the transparency of the commission.
He noted that the onward distribution of the materials from the councils to the 245 Wards of the state would begin on Thursday.
He said INEC wanted to ensure that materials got to Registration Area Centres (RAC) and Polling Units on time on Friday and Saturday morning respectively.
“We are here again as March 18 approaches for the governorship and house of assembly elections In Lagos state, election will be conducted in 40 constituencies on Saturday.
“And here we are at the CBN to collect our sensitive materials which will be escorted from here by security agencies to all the 20 local government areas of the state,” Agbaje said.
The INEC boss said the exercise was carried out in the full glare of agents of political parties, civil society organisations, observers and the media to show transparency of the commission.
He said the commission was not a political party but committed to making votes count.
He said that all necessary materials would be made available to voters at various polling units in the state.
“We are sure all materials including the result sheets will be made available at the 13, 325 polling units in the state.
“We are going to impress it on our Electoral Officers and our Supervisory Polling Officers (SPOs) to please ensure that all forms get to the various polling units in the state,” he said.
Agbaje said the commission had done its best in terms of preparations to ensure election materials and personnel got to the polling units in time.
He decried that some hoodlums waylaid the movement of materials to polling units in the Feb. 25 Presidential and National Assembly Elections, which, he said also caused some delays especially in Eti-Osa constituency.
Agbaje said the commission had appealed to security agencies to prevent such on Saturday.
“This time around, the commissioner of police has assured us that the situation will be better,” he added.
According to him, the commission is in constant talk with members of the Inter- Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to improve on security for the election to be free and fair.
In his remarks, the commissioner of police represented by ACP Sagir Ismail, assured voters and other residents that there would be adequate security personnel to provide security on election day.
He urged residents to go and exercise their franchise without fear.
Party agents, security operatives, election observers, and other critical stakeholders were on ground to witness delivery and the distribution of the materials to the 20 LGAs of the state.
Similarly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday delivered sensitive materials to the 18 local council areas of the state ahead of Saturday’s election for the State House of Assembly.
The distribution of the materials took place at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ondo State branch, in the presence of journalists and leaders of political parties, who closely monitored the process.
Among other things, the sensitive materials distributed include ballots and result sheets.
Only the House of Assembly election, in which 17 political parties will run, will take place in Ondo State on March 18.
The state’s acting Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Oyekola Oyelami, stated that the commission is prepared to hold a credible election in the state while reviewing the materials.
During the just concluded presidential elections, which were held on February 25, none of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation Systems, BVAS, according to Oyelami, had issues as they all operated flawlessly.
Oyelami promised that on election day, voting materials will be delivered early to all polling places while also stating the elections would surpass the just concluded presidential election.
He urged the electorate to cast their votes for the candidate of their choice, noting that those chosen will represent them in the State House of Assembly.
The State Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Mr. Olaoluwa Adesanya, expressed satisfaction with the material inspection.
In Bauchi State, INEC yesterday began the distribution of sensitive materials to the 20 Local Government Areas of the state for Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly elections.
The distribution commenced at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the materials were: Bimodal Voter Accreditation (BVAS System) election result sheets as well as the ballot papers.
Alhaji Mohammed Nura, The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state said during the distribution that the early distribution is to avoid shortfalls of materials.
“The reason for early distribution is to have knowledge of any shortfalls of the materials so we can revert back to headquarters Abuja for necessary actions before the election.
“That is why we invited all stakeholders to witness the exercise in order to forestall any impression by anybody of any wrongdoing by the commission,” he said.
The distribution was monitored by security agencies, including the Paramilitary, Police, Army, Nigerian Security as well as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Others were the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the Department of State Service (DSS), among other stakeholders.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also distributed sensitive election materials to all the 33 local government areas in Oyo State yesterday, ahead of Saturday’s governorship and house of assembly polls.
The materials were distributed in the presence of election stakeholders, including security agents and party representatives.
The distribution of the materials took place at the premises of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ibadan.
Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr Adeniran Tella, said that all the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) had been properly configured for the elections.
Tella said that the commission had also made provisions for extra 124 BVAS to ensure smooth running of the exercise, with additional 406 BVAS as backup in case of special needs.
“It is our tradition that we normally move our election materials from CBN to LGAs, onward to registration area centres (RACs) down to polling units at the instance of security agencies, media, party agents and other stakeholders.
“We are doing this with full presence of security agencies here today, because they remain critical stakeholders in our electoral process.
“In recognition of their contributions, the Electoral Institute had organised different layers of electoral security training for security agencies to mitigate any security lapses that may come up from electoral violence.
“We are conducting the forthcoming governorship and house of assembly polls on improved electoral process and new technological devices that guarantee free, fair, credible and acceptable elections,” he said.
Appeal Court Dismisses Atiku’s Request to Observe BVAS Reconfiguration
The Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja yesterday dismissed two motions filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), President-elect, Mr Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In the first motion marked CA/PEC/13m/2023, Atiku and the PDP requested the court’s permission to observe the reconfiguration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines by INEC officials.
The second motion (ex-parte) filed on March 14 on its part sought an order from the court to serve Atiku’s processes on Tinubu and the APC by substituted means, namely by serving their court papers on APC staff or posting them on their premises of the National Secretariat of APC in Abuja.
However, when the motions were to be argued, Counsel to Atiku and PDP, Mr Ifeanyi Iboko informed the court that he had filed a notice of discontinuance in respect of the two motions.
The lawyer explained that he was withdrawing the motions because they have been overtaken by recent events.
In a brief ruling, the Court of Appeal dismissed the two motions.
By David Torough, Abuja
In what appears like a marketing war, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has reduced the petrol pump price from N1,020 to N899 per litre.
This pricing competition emerged in the downstream sector emerged on Saturday after NNPCL reduced its depot price of petrol.
This just few days after the Dangote Refinery reduced its price to N899.
The new price indicates a reduction of N141 or 13.
56 percent, from N1,040 per litre it sold to customers living in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).According to the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), the price reduction was based on regional pricing scheme.
The association said under the arrangement, it would sell for N970 per litre in parts of the South South region.
A statement signed by the association’s National Public Relations Officer, Dr Joseph Obele, and quoting a document released by NNPCL’s Commercial Department, said marketers could offtake products based on the regional pricing scheme.
The document indicated that marketers would buy the product at N899 per litre in Lagos State, matching the price offered by the Dangote refinery a few days ago.
Marketers purchasing from its Warri, Oghara, Port Harcourt, and Calabar depots would pay N970 per litre to offtake products.
The statement read, “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has taken a significant step in response to the competitive impact of deregulation in the downstream sector.
“The company recently reduced the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit from N1,020 to N899 per litre.
“The price reduction by NNPCL is seen as a response to the competitive impact of deregulation, which has led to increased competition in the downstream sector.”
However, the NNPC spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, declined to speak when contacted.
But Obele noted that the price reduction by the national oil firm was a response to the competitive impact of deregulation, which had led to increased competition in the downstream sector.
He expressed optimism that PMS prices would drop further before the end of January 2025 given the global decline in crude oil prices and the naira’s recent gain against the dollar.
Obele described the trend as a price war and emphasised that the price reduction by the Dangote refinery and the NNPCL demonstrated the benefits of competition. He advocated the immediate privatisation of government-owned refineries.
The move is expected to spark a price war among oil marketers, ultimately benefiting consumers.
In his reaction, National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Abubakar Maigandi, said Nigerians would get fuel at cheaper rates once the marketers start taking the product at the reduced rate from NNPCL.
“The two most critical stakeholders in the sector have already reduced the rate, which is a very good development for us.
“So once we start taking fuel at the reduced rate, we are going to reduce our price too. We will also apply the price reduction percentage of the NNPCL,” he stated.
Also, the National Publicity Secretary of IPMAN, Mr Chinedu Ukadike, expressed satisfaction with the price reduction.
According to him, the price adjustment underscores the benefits of healthy competition brought about by the deregulation of the downstream sector.
“It’s a welcome development. And that is the duty of deregulation. Once the competition is held, there will be constant reduction in price of fuel,” Ukadike said.
He attributed the price drop not only to NNPCL’s readiness for the deregulated pricing regime but also to a reduction in the foreign exchange rate.
“As we continue to have multiple choices, we will also have multiple chances of continuous reduction. So IPMAN is very happy, and as we are buying the product cheaper, we will also see it cheaper to the consumers,” he added.
By Johnson Eyiangho & Laide Akinboade , Abuja
Following the tragedies that followed attempts to distribute food to Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu yesterday cancelled all his official events in Lagos, including his attendance at the 2024 Lagos Boat Regatta to mourn the stampede victims in Abuja and Okija, Anambra.
Tinubu was scheduled to watch the boat parade and other activities of the Boat Regatta from the waterfront of his Queen’s Drive residence in Ikoyi, his spokesman, Mr Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement.
Dignitaries, including top officials of the Lagos State Government and chiefs from the state, were already seated when the president cancelled his appearance following briefings on the tragedies.
Commiserating with the victims of the incidents in Anambra and the FCT, Tinubu urged states and relevant authorities to enforce strict crowd control measures immediately.
Tinubu said local and state authorities should no longer tolerate operational lapses by organisations and corporate bodies involved in charitable and humanitarian activities.
No fewer than 39 Nigerians have lost their lives following stampedes during food-sharing events in Okija, Anambra State, and Maitama, Abuja during the weekend.
In the struggle to get ahead and obtain the free food items distributed by organisers, the residents trampled upon one another, leading to the deaths.
While 10 residents died in Abuja, 29 were reported killed in Anambra.
These stampedes came days after a similar incident occurred in Ibadan, Oyo State, where 35 children lost their lives and several others were left critically injured during a funfair.
Similarly, 10 persons were confirmed dead at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja in a stampede, where a food outreach was held on Saturday.
It was gathered that the incident occurred around 6am during an annual charity event organised by parishes of the Catholic Church to distribute foodstuffs to the poor and the vulnerable in the community.
An eyewitness said the crowd remained orderly until around 5am.
He said, “Many people came from Mararaba, Nyanya, and Mpape areas to benefit from the church’s food distribution.
“To be honest, the church didn’t anticipate the size of the crowd that showed up. Although there were two security operatives on duty, they couldn’t manage the growing crowd effectively.
“Initially, everyone was orderly, but as the day broke, the number of people doubled. In their desperation to get the rice first, people began pushing and shoving.
“Before we knew it, we started hearing cries for help from those who had fallen or sustained injuries. The police came to rescue those injured and dispersed others who waited behind with the hope that the distribution would continue.”
In Anambra, no fewer than 29 persons have been reported dead and many others injured during a stampede that occurred at the gate of the Charity Event at the Obijackson Centre in Amanranta, Okija, Ihiala LGA of Anambra State.
It was also gathered that the stampede, which occurred at the venue of the sharing of palliatives, including 25kg bags of rice, vegetable oil, and money, was a result of poor crowd control.
It was learnt that the victims, particularly elderly women and children, were trampled upon as they struggled to gain entrance amid a large and uncontrollable crowd.
It was observed at the scene that many shoes and slippers belonging to the victims were littered on the ground in front of the gate as security operatives battled to control the surging crowd, who were still forcing their way onto the premises.
Despite the stampede and the tragic incident, the sharing of palliatives continued, with beneficiaries going home with 25kg bags of rice, vegetable oil, noodles, and cash gifts from the foundation.
The palliatives were being donated by a notable member of the community, Chief Ernest Obiejesi (Obijackson), on behalf of the Obijackson Foundation.
Eyewitnesses at the venue said many who collapsed were rushed to hospital, while those who died were taken to the morgue.
Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, confirmed the incident.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, also mourned victims of the stampedes, describing the development as a reflection of poverty and systemic failure.
Obi, in a tweet on his official X handle at the weekend said the desperate quest for survival in the harsh economy drove the people to the extremes in search of food at the cost of their lives.
He said, “While I will not cast blame, but instead appreciate the organisers of these respective events for their kind gestures in providing palliatives and support to society, especially the poor, these tragedies reflect the systemic failures that plague our society.”
Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the widespread food stampede in the country as a testament of an alarming level of misery, poverty, hunger, starvation, sense of hopelessness and desperation for survival by the citizens under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration.
The party said it was devastated that the APC-led administration had wrecked the nation’s once thriving economy and pushed millions deeper into abject poverty and hunger with many citizens, not being able to afford their daily meals, now resorting to desperate measures including slavery mission abroad and fighting for crumbs for survival.
In a statement by its Spokesman, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, yesterday lamented the tragic stampede at private events in Oyo and Anambra states as well as Abuja which claimed the lives of more than 60 vulnerable citizens including children in their desperate struggle for food as a result of the pervasive hunger in the land.
The statement called on Nigerians to hold the Tinubu-led APC administration responsible for the remote cause of those tragic occurrences for which it must recompense.
The PDP accused the APC of false performance claims including empty assurances of food sufficiency while deliberately failing to make the required investments to boost the productive sector, particularly in agriculture and food production.
It demanded the immediate review of all the ‘suffocating economic and tax policies’ of the APC administration which it said are bringing misery and death to Nigerians daily.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, expressed deep concerns over the unorganised distribution of palliatives and relief items across Nigeria during the festive period.
The Force Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the IG had ordered the Commissioners of Police in the affected states to investigate the deaths for possible legal actions.
He stated that the organisers of this charity are liable for criminal offences, citing relevant provisions in Nigeria’s Penal and Criminal Codes.
By David Torough, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has directed the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances that led to the tragic incident at the Children’s funfair in Ibadan, which resulted in the loss of lives and injuries.
Presidential Spokesman Bayo Onanuga, in a statement stressed the importance of determining whether negligence or deliberate actions contributed to this painful development, ensuring a transparent and accountable process.
The president, who expressed profound sadness over the tragic incident on Thursday, extended condolences to the government and people of Oyo State, as well as to the grieving families who have lost their beloved children.
The statement read, “In this moment of mourning, President Tinubu stands in solidarity with the affected families and offers prayers that the Almighty God will grant peace to the souls of those who have departed in this unfortunate event.
“President Tinubu has urgently directed the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances of this tragedy thoroughly. He emphasises that it is imperative to determine whether negligence or deliberate actions contributed to this painful incident, ensuring a transparent and accountable process.
“The President urges the Oyo State Government to take every necessary measure to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring.”
The president wants a comprehensive review of all public events’ safety measures, strict enforcement of safety regulations, and regular safety audits of event venues.
He called on event organizers to prioritize the safety of all attendees, especially children, just as he stressed the importance of integrating professional security, protocol, and logistics at events to ensure the utmost safety of all participants.
According to the president, “Our children’s safety and well-being remain paramount. No event should ever compromise their safety or take precedence over their lives.”
So far, police have confirmed that 35 children died while six others were critically injured.
According to a statement by the Oyo State Police Command through the spokesman, Adewale Osifeso, yesterday, the organisers of the event, including the main sponsor, Naomi Silekunola, the estranged wife of the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and her media partner, Agidigbo FM, the principal of the school, and five others, have been arrested in connection with the tragedy.
The police stated that the event was organised by the Wings Foundation and media partners Agidigbo FM, without proper permission or safety measures in place.
The police said they have commenced an investigation into the incident and have promised to bring those responsible to justice.
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