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REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN, INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC), PROF. MAHMOOD YAKUBU, AT THE SECOND REGULAR QUARTERLY CONSULTATIVE MEETING WITH POLITICAL PARTIES FOR 2024 HELD AT THE INEC CONFERENCE ROOM, ABUJA, ON MONDAY 13TH MAY 2024

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Chairmen and other Leaders of Political Parties
National Commissioners
The Secretary to the Commission
Other Senior Officials of the Commission
Members of the INEC Press Corps
Ladies and Gentlemen

1.​ It is my pleasure to welcome you to our second regular quarterly consultative meeting for this year following our first meeting held two months ago on Tuesday 19th March 2024. You may recall that the meeting focused mainly on two issues. The first was 9 bye-elections and 38 re-run elections in 26 States of the Federation held on 3rd February 2024. With the exception of two State Assembly constituencies in Enugu and Kano States disrupted by violence and thuggery, winners have emerged from 45 out of 47 constituencies. The Commission is remobilising to conclude the outstanding re-run elections following the recent conclusion of consultations with stakeholders in the two States. The second, is the forthcoming off-cycle Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.

2.​ Today’s meeting will update party leaders on preparations for the Edo and Ondo State Governorship elections. As you are aware, the Edo State Governorship election is holding in the next four months on Saturday 21st September 2024 while the Ondo Governorship election holds in the next six months on Saturday 16th November 2024.

3.​ The Commission has already published the final list of candidates for the Edo State Governorship election following the conclusion of party primaries and the end of the period for withdrawal and substitution of candidates as provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election. Campaign in public by political parties commenced on Wednesday 24th April 2024 and will end at midnight on Thursday 19th September 2024 i.e. 24 hours before the date fixed for the election as provided by law. Let me therefore seize this opportunity to once again reiterate to party leaders the need to continue to maintain law and order during the electioneering process and beyond. As we inch closer to Election Day in Edo State, it is also imperative to remind political parties of the need to adhere strictly to the timeline for the upload of the list of polling and collation agents to the dedicated portal. Doing so will enable the Commission to produce and deliver the identity cards in good time for the expected 76,823 Polling Unit agents and 3,587 Ward, Local Government and State collation agents for the 17 political parties participating in the election.

4.​ Turning to Ondo State, political parties have just concluded their primaries. Eighteen (18) political parties conducted primaries monitored by the Commission. I wish to remind you that parties have one week to the deadline for the nomination of candidates which is 6.00pm on Monday 20th May 2024 when the portal automatically shuts down. I urge you to adhere strictly to the deadline. Political parties have been given 23 days (over three weeks) from the end of primaries to prepare and submit the list of only two candidates (Governorship candidate and running mate) to the Commission. There will be no extension of time.

5.​ As the elections in the two States approach, the Commission has decided to resume the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the two States to enable eligible citizens who are not registered voters to do so. Similarly, those who are registered voters also have the opportunity to transfer their registration from other States of the federation to Edo and Ondo States or from one location to another within the two States. Let me reiterate that the CVR is only open to new registrants and those who seek to transfer their registration. Persons who are registered as voters should not attempt to register again as double or multiple registration is illegal. Lost or damaged voters’ cards will be replaced during the exercise but this does require fresh registration. The CVR in Edo and Ondo States will take place simultaneously from Monday 27th May 2024 to Wednesday 5th June 2024 from 9.00am to 3.00pm daily including the weekend.

6.​ Taking into consideration the limited time to the Governorship elections, the Commission has decided to conduct the registration at Ward level and our State headquarters instead of our Local Government offices and a few designated centers as was case in the past. This means that there will be 192 Ward registration centres in Edo State and 203 centres in Ondo State, in addition to our State offices in Benin City and Akure, making a total of 397 walk-in registration centres in the two States. There will be no online pre-registration option in the two States because of time constraint. Each centre will be managed by two officials drawn from our regular staff and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). In the next few days, the Commission will commence the training of at least 794 officials for the exercise. The locations of the registration centres as well as other relevant information have been compiled in a detailed 28-page document included in your folders for this meeting. The same information will be uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information shortly.

7.​ The Commission therefore appeals to political parties and other stakeholders to join us in mobilising prospective registrants for the exercise, particularly on the need to register early and not wait until the deadline approaches when the registration centres are inundated by eleventh hour registrants.

8.​ In addition to the registration of voters, the Commission will also make available the uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for collection during the CVR. In the coming days, the list of uncollected PVCs will be published in our offices in the two States and simultaneously uploaded to our website. Again, we encourage those who have not collected their PVCs in the two States to seize the opportunity to do so.

9.​ Before I conclude, I would also like to inform party leaders about the existence of vacancies in National and State Assemblies caused by either death or resignation of Honourable Members in three States and one Federal constituencies across the country. As soon as preparations are concluded, the Commission will announce the dates for bye-elections in Khana 2 State Constituency of Rivers State, the Bagwai/Shanono State constituency of Kano State, the Zaria Kewaye State Constituency of Kaduna State and the Garki/Babura Federal Constituency of Jigawa State.

10.​ Once again welcome you to this meeting. I thank you and God bless.

 

 

EVENTS

POWA HONOURS HON DR SAMUEL UDEH WITH AN AWARD OF RECOGNITION; hands over to police, huge sum of cash forgotten by a passenger in a bus

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Joined state police command, IIRS, Insurance companies in policy sensitisation

*Austin Jp*

Imo State Chairman of NURTW Hon Dr Samuel Udeh JP.Fcai (Eze Umuokorobia) was honoured with an award of recognition by police officers wives association (POWA) for his benevolence and philanthropic gesture towards POWA empowerment program and service to humanity.

The award was presented by Mrs Jemimah Aboki Danjuma wife of Imo State commissioner of police Mr Danjuma Aboki, at the command headquarters in Owerri.

Reacting to the award recognition, Chief Samuel Udeh in humility expressed gratitude and appreciation to police wives association of Imo State chapter for the recognition and honour to him.

Hon Sam dedicated his award to Imo State governor His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma (Onwa Onyoko) and reaffirmed his commitment to service for the betterment of our dear State and the society at large.

Also at the event, Ukwenga Samuel Udeh handed over a huge sum of cash forgotten by a passenger in a bus. The money was found by a member of the reformed union in the State under the leadership of Chief Samuel Udeh.

Handing over the cash to Imo CP, Hon Sam said this can only be done from a good spirited Nigerian which was as a result of the several reforms that has taken place in the union under his watch as the state chairman.

Imo CP commended the driver that found the money and the leadership of the union and said, such a Nigeria deserves a national award.

He said the money will be kept in their custody, while an announcement regarding the money will be put across the media platforms for the owner to come for claim. If after some time and the money wasn’t claimed, it will be paid into federal government account with the teller deposited in court.

Another event that took place at the state command was a seminar on the third party insurance policy, which involved representatives of the stakeholders from Imo State internal revenue service, insurance companies, national union of road transport workers and other related stakeholders were also present at the seminar.

Mr Aboki Danjuma stated that the essence of the seminar with the stakeholders is for them to go and educate their members on the new policy of third party insurance, as implementation and enforcement on the third party insurance will commence from 1st of February 2025 across the federation.The committee that will spearhead the implementation and enforcement were inaugurated at the seminar.

Importance of the third party insurance will be to assist the police in crime prevention. Whenever a vehicle is snatched, or used to commit a crime, it can easily be traced through the third party insurance database collection.

Answering questions from the pressmen after the seminar, Honourable Samuel Udeh said it is a good policy from the inspector general of police. The commissioner of police have said it all, it is now for us in the transport system to adhere to the advice of the commissioner of police and get the third party insurance for our vehicles.

He agreed with the police that the third party insurance will help to put to rest the issue of car theft in Imo State.

With database collection of the vehicles and the owners, together with other benefits of the policy which is paying compensation to accident victims by the insurance company, union will surely educate drivers who are members of the union on wheels to get their vehicles insured.

Chief Sam Udeh used the opportunity to thank the Imo CP for his commitment and dedication in securing Imo. He made a request for the officer in charge of the policy enlightenment to make out time to come to the union office to educate the members of the union, to enable total compliance from the drivers on wheels.

 

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EVENTS

Deacon Famous Discovers Love in Ghana

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Content creator, actor, and friend Udaya Chidiebere Awesome, popularly known as Deacon Famous, has found love in Ghana. Deacon Famous recently took to social media to announce his engagement to Mawusi Faith, a lovely Ghanaian woman from the Volta Region.

In a heartfelt post, Deacon Famous expressed his joy and gratitude, saying: “Mawusi Faith, it’s an absolute delight to embark on this lifelong journey with you. I waited patiently for the right one, and now I’ve found my perfect match.” He also hinted at a possible Ghanaian wedding celebration, exclaiming, “Ghana, we’re coming again!”

Photo source: Instagram

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EVENTS

My daughter planning wedding to pharmacist before murder – Mother of corper beheaded by gospel singer

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Mrs Ojomachenwu Adaidu, mother of Salome, a 24-year-old corps member who was murdered by an Abuja gospel, Timileyin Ajayi, speaks to TEMITOPE ADETUNJI about her daughter’s ambition before she met her untimely death, and asks for justice to be done in matter

What is your relationship with the slain corps member?

I am Mrs Ojomachenwu Adaidu, the mother of Salome Eleojo Adaidu.

Where are you from?

I am from Ogodu in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State.

How old are you?

I am 52 years old.

What do you do for a living?

I am into a small business.

Which tertiary institution did your late daughter attend before going for her youth service?

She graduated from Kogi State University.

How would you describe Salome’s personality and values?

Salome was a wonderful child, hardworking and responsible. Every morning, before I even woke up, she would sweep and tidy the house. Among all my children, she was the most hardworking.

Salome was serving as a youth corps member before the incident. Did she ever talk to you about her plans?

Yes, she told me she wanted to become a doctor after her service year.

What went through your mind when you heard the news?

I felt like my world had ended. It’s a painful experience, and it still feels like a bad dream. People tried to console me, saying I have other children, but no one should go through something like this. It has been extremely difficult. What I want is justice for her. (Sobbing) I am currently very ill.

The suspect claimed Salome was his girlfriend. Can you clarify this?

That’s a lie. Salome was not his girlfriend. He didn’t even know her name. You can see in the video that the killer has a beard. My children don’t like men who keep beards, and Salome had no relationship with him. She already had someone she was dating; a pharmacist. I told her we would do the necessary wedding introduction after her service year.

What do you want the police to do as the investigation continues?

I want the police to thoroughly investigate this case and make him confess what happened. He should face justice for what he did. The way he cut my daughter’s body into pieces is the same way I want him to be dealt with. They should cut him too into pieces; I want to see it done.

How many children do you have?

I now have five children, four girls and one boy. I used to have six before losing Salome.

 Aside from being hardworking, what other qualities did Salome have?

She was very kindhearted. Every time, she received her alawee (youth service allowance), she would buy me drugs, foodstuffs, and provisions. She was so generous, and I miss her deeply. Since her father passed, she promised to stand by me and take care of me.

When did Salome’s father pass away?

He died on May 16, 2024. Now, I’ve lost both my husband and my daughter, two people so close to my heart.

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