Politics

Oyo INEC May Decentralize CVR Before 2023

By Web News 913

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says it may consider decentralization of the ongoing Continuous Voters’ Registration, CVR, into wards and polling units before the 2023 general election.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Oyo State, Dr. Mutiu Agboke who gave the indication at the stakeholders meeting Oyo/Ogbomoso Zone at Atiba Hall, Oyo Town reiterated that the CVR is still being carried out at the commission’s local government offices across the state.

Dr. Agboke pointed out that the commission has introduced technological innovations such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS to put an end to electoral frauds and manual voting as well as the use of incident forms.

The REC hinted that the commission has collaborated with the security agencies, the anti-graft agencies and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for the prosecution of those engaged in vote-buying, urging politicians to desist from ballot snatching and stuffing.

He called on traditional rulers and other stakeholders to mobilise people to collect their Permanent Voters Card, PVCs and rolled out the commission contacts: 08052541237, 08165262056 and 08037435887 for call and text to address public complaints.

Earlier, while on homage visit to the palace of Alaafin of Oyo by the INEC entourage, the monarch, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who commended INEC for conducting credible governorship poll in Anambra state urged the commission to sustain the feat in future elections in Oyo State.

Oba Adeyemi promised to augment INEC sensitization efforts by disseminating information about CVR to people in his domain.

In a remark, the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi represented by the Alaroje of Ogbomoso land, Oba Oyedola Osuolale called on INEC to address technical hitches associated with machines used during election periods to achieve the gains of electoral transformation.

Oyo State Director, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mrs. Folake Ayooka speaking through the Assistant Director NOA, Oyo East local government, Mrs. Florence Siyanbade urged Nigerians to perform all necessary civic responsibilities for them to enjoy dividends of democracy.

Sheriffdeen Nasirudeen

Politics

Only 16 Political Parties in Oyo State – INEC

By Web News 892

Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says only sixteen political parties are recognised in Oyo state.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Oyo state, Mr Mutiu Agboke stated this at a stakeholders meeting with members of Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security and Political Parties held in Oyo state.

Mr Agboke noted that with the development, there was a vacuum in IPAC as most of its principal officers in Oyo state fell within the deregistered parties and were no longer known to law.

Mr Agboke stressed the readiness of INEC to collaborate with the parties to ensure hitch-free political process.

INEC had on November deregistered 74 political parties out of 92.

Adedayo Adelowo

Politics

Oyo INEC Resumes Operations

By Web News 1436

Offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at the local governments still remain closed due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Resident Electoral Commissioner in Oyo State, Alhaji Mutiu Agboke while speaking with Radio Nigeria said activities have however resumed at its office secretariat at Agodi area of Ibadan.

Mr. Agboke said the commission is ready to abide by all to NCDC directives in its operations.

He however added that continuous voters’ registration exercise is on hold for now.

Lillian Ibomor

Politics

Don, Politicians, SAN, React as INEC De-Lists 74 Parties

By Web News 820

Eminent Nigerians have lauded the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deregister seventy-four (74) political parties.

The personalities who cut across academia, judiciary and politics bared their minds with Radio Nigeria staff reporter, Adedayo Adelowo in Ibadan.

Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmud Yakub while announcing the development said the commission carried out a thorough review of the performances of political parties after the 2019 general elections to see which of them qualified to exist, hence the de-registration of the 74 parties leaving 18. 

Speaking on the development, an associate professor of Political Science, at the University of Ilorin and Chief of Staff to former Governor of Oyo State, Chief Abiola Ajimobi, Professor Gbade Ojo said proliferation of political parties was already a threat to the nation’s democracy, with reference to clumsiness in 2019 voters’ register, hence the justification for the review. 

Also lauding the development, former Vice-Chancellor, Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae maintained that political parties without significant achievements in previous elections were not meant to remain in the system. 

Professor Osaghae, however, expressed worry that de-listing of up to 74 parties was a signal that INEC also needed to review its processes.

From a legal perspective, Chief Adeniyi Akintola SAN, who acknowledged that proliferation of parties was making political system cumbersome, called for a holistic review of the electoral act to affirm the power of INEC.

A politician, Alhaji Bashir Akanbi said it was a development everybody should embrace, with a call on INEC not to rescind the decision.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Oyo State, Mr. Mutiu Agboke affirmed that the decision of the commission was irreversible, saying any party who felt its rights had been violated should approach the court.

Adedayo Adelowo