ADVERTISEMENT The chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who said this, yesterday, in Abuja at the 2019 election review meeting with leaders of the registered parties, also said that of the 73 presidential candidates that contested the election, only one submitted financial expenses report. He, however, did not name the party or the presidential candidate that submitted their spending and efforts to get the names were unsuccessful as INEC officials said they could not release it now for “strategic reason”.

ADVERTISEMENT Yakubu said INEC has concluded its in-house reviews and yesterday’s meeting with the party leaders marked the beginning of its consultation with stakeholders in fulfilment of its promise to undertake a major national conversation on the future of the nation’s electoral process. “It is important to remind us that as we review the 2019 general elections in order to identify successes, challenges and the way forward, we should also ask ourselves the extent to which we have complied with the extant laws. I wish to remind you that the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) requires each political party to submit two election expenses reports to the commission. “First is the disclosure of material contributions received from individuals and corporate bodies three months after the announcement of the results of the general election as provided for in Section 93(4) of the Electoral Act. So far, no political party is in compliance. Secondly, parties are required to submit audited returns of their election expenses within six months after an election as provided for in Section 92(3)[a] of the Electoral Act. “Although we are still within the time frame provided by law, so far only one party has filed its returns,” he said.

He said the conduct of party primaries and nomination of candidates for the 2019 elections was very acrimonious resulting in a number of court cases on the participation or otherwise of political parties and candidates in elections in many constituencies. That, he said, made the management of electoral logistics and post-election litigations more challenging to the commission, with over 809 cases challenging the conduct of primaries by political parties in regular courts across the country. He said the figure was more than the number of petitions challenging the conduct of the main election currently before the election petition tribunals nationwide. He therefore warned the parties to build their capacities for internal democracy, voter mobilisation and financial procedures.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/only-one-party-submitted-2019-election-expense-report-inec.html

The post 2019 Election – Only one party submitted expense report — INEC appeared first on Daily Concord.

The presidential and national assembly elections held on Saturday, February 23, 2019.

Election marred by violence

Reports from several polling booths across the nation shows that violence was the order of the day in states like Rivers, Lagos, Kogi and many others.

Six people were killed by soldiers on election duty in Rivers state during a gun battle.

Pictures of suspected political thugs burning ballot boxes and disrupting elections in Lagos state flooded social media.

More details later.

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu has moved the collation of election results to Monday, February 25, 2019, by 11:00 am.

The presidential and national assembly elections held on Saturday, February 23, 2019.

Election marred by violence

Reports from several polling booths across the nation shows that violence was the order of the day in states like Rivers, Lagos, Kogi and many others.

Six people were killed by soldiers on election duty in Rivers state during a gun battle.

Pictures of suspected political thugs burning ballot boxes and disrupting elections in Lagos state flooded social media.

More details later.

Read more at:

The post INEC postpones announcement of results to Monday appeared first on Daily Concord.

This was announced by the commission’s chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, in a statement on Friday, February 8, the initial deadline of collection. The extended time also covers Saturday, February 9, and Sunday, February 10.

“The collection of PVCs will now take place from 9am to 6pm daily,” the statement read.

Prof Yakubu also charged all INEC state offices to review the procedure for the collection of PVCs and dedicate all the staff of the Local Government offices to the collection process.

“The Commission wishes to reassure Nigerians that we will continue to take every necessary step to ensure that no registered voter is disenfranchised on account of non-collection of PVCs,” he said.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu

Even though Yakubu had previously assured that the deadline of collection would be a week before the election, many Nigerians have complained about the unavailability of their cards despite registering months ago.

A lot of Nigerians took to social media to complain that their cards were not ready when they went to their respective INEC centres on Friday.

In response, Yakubu said urgent steps will be taken to solve the problem before the new Monday deadline.

He said, “Similarly, the Commission is taking urgent steps to address complaints of unavailability of the PVCs of some registered voters before the end the deadline for the collection.

Read more at:

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