.Says Commission Mindful of  Integrity Breach 

.APC Chairmanship Aspirants Bicker over Non-refund of N20m Nomination Fee 

.Mull Taking their matter to Buhari as Adamu Shuns their Written Appeal

By Jude Opara, Abuja and Dan Amasingha, Minna 

As Nigerians continue to express concern over the surprise involvement into partisan politics by the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday disclosed that it was considering moving its sensitive and non sensitive electoral materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) which is under the custody of the the now politically exposed Godwin Emefiele, the  governor in order to ensure their safety and integrity.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed on Thursday during the Second Quarter of the Consultative meeting with media executives at the National headquarters of the Commission in Abuja.
The national electoral body usually secures its materials in the CBN offices across the country, a development that has made some stakeholders to question the safety and security of the materials with Emefiele joining the race for the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)

The INEC boss who was answering a question concerning the security of the items, however, assured that the Commission has never had any cause to worry about the security of the materials in the custody of the apex bank.

Nevertheless, he said if need be, following the apex bank’s incursion into politics, INEC would consider alternative means of safe keeping the materials in order to ensure the confidence of all political stakeholders.

On the efforts being made to ensure the conduct of a free and credible election in 2023, the INEC Chairman explained that the Commission was living nothing to chance including the periodic training and retraining of its staff and constant engagements with stakeholders including the media, security agencies and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

“Based on the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election over two months ago. Since then, the official notice for the election has been published as required by law. Similarly, all the 18 political parties in Nigeria have forwarded the schedules for the conduct of their primaries to the Commission and some have commenced the process of choosing their candidates by conducting Ward and Local Government congresses. 

“Beyond the conduct of primaries by political parties, the Commission is required to make Regulations and Guidelines for the implementation of the provisions of the Electoral Act. I am glad to report that the Commission will finalize the document next week to guide the conduct of future elections, including the forthcoming Ekiti and Osun Governorship elections as well as the 2023 General Election”.

He equally gave insight into what is being done to conduct credible elections in Ekiti state next month and Osun in July, saying, “With regard to the Ekiti and Osun Governorship elections, the Commission is processing applications by media organizations for accreditation. I wish to reassure you that all applications will be carefully considered and expeditiously treated. The Commission will also work with the security agencies to ensure the safety and security of journalists and their unimpeded access to all voting and collation locations during elections.

“The Commission has finished the configuration of the BVAS for the Ekiti State Governorship election. To further ensure optimal performance of the BVAS on Election Day, the Commission will undertake a mock voter accreditation exercise in Ekiti State ahead of the main election on 18th June 2022, the details of which will be announced shortly”.

The President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo reassured the Commission of the readiness of the media to continue to partner with it in ensuring that adequate information on its activities was disseminated.

Isiguzo also cautioned the media practitioners to always be factual in their reportage.

APC Chairmanship Aspirants Bicker over Non-refund of N20m Nomination Fee

 
Meanwhile a crisis of confidence is brewing in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of its  presidential primary as it is yet to refund the N20million nomination fee it collected from aspirants who vied for the position of the national chairmanship of the party on March 26, against Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who emerged by consensus arrangement. It could be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari who doubles as the leader of the party had goaded all other aspirants to queue behind his preferred aspirant, Senator Adamu.

It elicited grumble from the other aspirants and party chieftains and by way of damage control, the president stipulated that the party would refund all other aspirants, the N20million they paid for the forms. Some of the aspirants who coughed out N20million to contest for  the  position are worried that the party has moved on without looking at their direction anymore, especially as Buhari further directed the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), headed by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe state to ensure the refund 

DAILY ASSET investigation  revealed that the situation is causing a palpable tension in the party as some of the former chairmanship aspirants who were prevailed to step down for consensus candidate, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu are getting agitated.  
Their abandonment is contrary to a directive given by President  Buhari sequel to the brokering of a consensus chairmanship arrangement. 

Among those who were in the national chairmanship race with the current national chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, were former Nasarawa state, Governor Tanko Almakura, Mr Salihu Mustapha from Kwara State, Senator Sani Musa and Mohammed Etsu both from Niger state, Mr Abdul Aziz Yari  from Kebbi state and Mr George Akume from Benue state.

Each of the aspirants had paid the non-refundable fee of N20million before President Buhari persuaded them to step down for Senator Adamu as a his preferred choice.
Having waited without any refund, DAILY ASSET made representations in writing to the new leadership of the party and got no response.
“We have written to the chairman reminding him of the presidential directive, but nothing has been heard from him, ” Mohammed Etsu said.
Etsu disclosed that Adamu has neither replied the letters sent to him nor communicated with any of them verbally.

Asked what step they will take he said: “We might be forced to take the case back to President Muhammadu Buhari since he gave the directive.”