Tag Archives: Mahmood Yakubu

2023 General Elections, Politics Today

2023: Those without PVC would not be permitted to vote – Yakubu.

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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, on Thursday in Abuja insisted that no eligible voter in Nigeria will be allowed to cast vote in the forthcoming general elections without a Permanent Voter Card, PVC, even as he gave an assurance that the Bimodal Voter Registration System, BVAS, is highly secured, intact and cannot be compromised or hacked into by overzealous persons.

Fielding questions from participants after presenting a paper on “INEC and the Challenges of ICT- The Way Forward,” Yakubu insisted that technology will be deployed to actualize a credible, fair and hitch-free general election.

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“As with every aspect of our national lives, adopting technologies into the electoral process is always met with challenges.

“One major challenge was the lack of a clear-cut legal framework supporting the deployment of technology by the Commission especially in the accreditation of voters and the voting process.

“The deployment of the Smart Card Readers in 2015 and its use was faced with various challenges such as resistance to use in some isolated instances, snatching and destruction of devices, attempts to manipulate the use of the devices, and most prominently various judicial pronouncements on the legality of its use,” Yakubu said.

Represented by Dr Lawrence Bayode, Director ICT, the INEC chairman said: “Another very disturbing trend is the misinformation and disinformation on technological deployments by the Commission in the social media space and some media houses picking up news bulletins from social media platforms to discuss on their morning shows and political programmes without reaching out to the Commission for its stance on such issues.

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“One of such is the recent viral assumption that PVC is not required to vote on Election day.

Let me reiterate the Commission’s stance that, Section 47(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 clearly states that, a person intending to vote in an election shall present himself with his voter’s card to a Presiding Officer for accreditation at the polling unit in the constituency in which his name is registered.”

INEC, he insisted, is legally bound to only accept the accreditation of a voter on presentation of a valid voter’s card.

Emmanuel Owah, Assistant Research Fellow, National Judicial Institute, Abuja, presented a paper on “The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Election Management and Agenda Setting.”

Similarly, there was a paper presentation on “The Role of the Media in Election Reportage” by Adebimpe Elizabeth Olorunfemi, Assistant Research Fellow, National Judicial Institute, Abuja

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2023 General Elections, Politics Today

INEC won’t postpone 2023 general elections – Mahmood Yakubu.

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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu on Wednesday, restated the commitment of the commission to hold the forthcoming general elections as scheduled.

He said the electoral body is not contemplating postponing the general elections in February and March this year.

Yakubu spoke when he met with the leadership of the 18 political parties at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

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“The commission is not contemplating any adjustment to the election timetable let alone postponement to the general elections. The repeated assurance by security agencies for the adequate protection of personnel and process also reinforces our determination to proceed.

“The 2023 general elections will hold as scheduled. Any report to the country is not the official position of the commission,” he said.

The INEC chairman also presented the 2023 voter register to the parties ahead of the elections as required by the 2022 Electoral Act.

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The commission presented a register containing 93,469,008 voters for the 2023 general elections.

The voter distribution also revealed that 44,414,846 registered voters are females, and 49,054,162 are males.

Of the total registered voters, the number of young people between the ages of 18 and 34 stood at 37,060,399, representing 39.65% of total registered voters while the elderly between the ages of 50 and 69 stood at 17,700,270, representing 18.94% of total registered voters.

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Politics Today

2023: INEC invites election monitoring groups.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has invited interested international organisations across the world to observe the 2023 general elections.

INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu made the call when he received the delegation of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) Pre-Election Fact-Finding Mission to Nigeria.

The group was led by Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, former chairman of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, at the commission headquarters on Monday in Abuja.

The INEC boss disclosed that it was a demonstration of the commission’s openness to receive international observers.

“Election observation is an important part of ensuring transparency and credibility in elections. We have always benefited from the insight of election observation missions. For instance, you are here on fact-finding, we will hear from you what you have found so far, which will help us in concluding our preparations for the election,” he explained.

Mr Yakubu assured the ECOWAS that the general elections would be technology-driven.

“Let me restate the commitment of INEC Nigeria free, fair and credible elections driven by technology. The 2023 general election in Nigeria will be driven by technology not only as a matter of legal requirement, but also as a matter of course, for us in the commission,” said the INEC chief.

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He assured the ECOWAS team that “we are committed to delivering a credible election in the next four months and a few days, which will be Nigeria’s seventh successive elections, since the restoration of democracy in 1999.”

Mr Yakubu, who commended ECOWAS for its commitment to credible elections in Nigeria, said it was the first to arrive Nigeria for the election.

“ECOWAS has demonstrated that seriousness and commitment to ensuring that we get (it) right electorally in this region in the next few weeks, I’m sure many more organisations will come,” added the INEC chair.

Mr Yakubu also stressed the need to restore democratic government in all West African countries including Mali, Burkina and Guinea.

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Politics Today

Parties ask INEC to extend timeline for primaries.

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Political parties in the country have asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the timelines for the 2023 general elections by two months.

Specifically, the parties want slight changes to the primaries’ timeline, as stipulated by the electoral umpire.

Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yusuf Yabagi, made the appeal on Tuesday at a meeting of the electoral umpire and leaders of various political parties at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.

According to Yabagi, who also serves as the National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), the extension is necessary to help political parties put things in order for the forthcoming general elections.

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INEC confirms Tinubu’s claim, says 45% of PVCs in Nigeria are invalid.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Wednesday over 45 percent of the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) in the country are invalid.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who disclosed this at a media briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, however, said 1,390,519 PVCs are found to be valid as at January 14.

He also expressed fears about the 2023 elections due to worsening insecurity in the country.

“Everybody in Nigeria, including those of us in INEC is concerned about the security challenges. The environment must be secured for commission to conduct the election.

“However, we are liaising with the security agencies to secure the environment for us to conduct the 2023 elections.”

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had earlier this year raised concern over the PVCs in the country.

Tinubu, who addressed some women leaders who paid him a visit in Abuja, said the PVCs in the possession of Nigerians had expired.

But the commission quickly countered the ex-Lagos State governor and demanded a public apology for misinforming Nigerians.

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In the news

Request for new polling units reaches INEC.

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Yakubu made the disclosures when he visited the offices of the Arewa Consultative Forum office, in Kaduna, for consultation on creating additional polling units in the country.

The National Chairman, Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, on Tuesday, disclosed that as at Feb. 15, the commission had received 9,777 unsolicited requests from across the country for the establishment of additional polling units.

He observed that the requests, which were 5,700 as at October 2020, had spiralled by over 4,000 in just four months.

Yakubu made the disclosures when he visited the offices of the Arewa Consultative Forum office, in Kaduna, for consultation on creating additional polling units in the country.

The INEC chairman said the purpose of the visit was to meet with an organ of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to brief them of the commission’s policy of expanding access to polling units in the country, adding that the issue of inadequate polling units was a national problem.

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” We have had 119,973 polling units since 1996, but the number hasn’t changed as it was projected in 1996 to accommodate 50 million registered voters.

”In 1999, the country had 84 million registered voters and the number of polling units still remained the same “, he said.

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He noted that as a result, there was a lot of congestion and this had not given voters a pleasant voting experience on election day.

Yakubu said that the commission was clear on its intention to build a national consensus in the interest of democracy, explaining that the process had begun since last week during which the commission had already met with political parties, organizations, security agencies and the media.

He added that consultation was very important in any democracy, and that was why the commission needed to consult, so as to get the aggregate views of Nigerians.

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According to him, the commission was expanding the conversation to socio-cultural associations, traditional and religious organizations, statutory bodies such as the National Assembly, the Federal Executive Council and National Council of States.

He said the commission had contacted all groups across the country and some had already started responding via text messages.

Responding, the Secretary-General of ACF, Alhaji Murtala Aliyu, who received the INEC chairman and his entourage, expressed appreciation for the visit, saying that the forum would continue to support any initiative that aimed to improve the lives of the citizens and the country at large.

“Since 1996, the polling units have not been increased, we think it’s necessary for it to increase for the convenience of democracy “, he said.

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According to him, one of the stopgap measures taken was in creating some units attached to main polling units, and this had become acceptable in quite a number of places, so what was needed was to formalise such units.

He also called on all meaning Nigerians to educate the people on the issue of expansion of the units, so as to ensure their sustainability.

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Mahmood Yakubu assumes office as INEC Chairman for second term

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Yakubu promised that in due course INEC would give details of other activities going to the 2023 election.

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Thursday assumed office to commence his second tenure for a period of five years.

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Yakubu at the expiration of his first tenure on Nov.9 handed over the affairs of the commission to National Commissioner, Ahmed Mu’azu, while awaiting Senate confirmation for the second tenure.

Yakubu, at a brief takeover ceremony at the commission headquarters in Abuja, said that quick passage of the Electoral Act amendment remained a top priority.

“You will recall that I appealed to the Senate Committee on INEC during my screening two weeks ago to conclude work for the passage of the Electoral Act amendment by the first quarter of 2021.

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“I am glad that in his response, the Senate President has assured the nation only yesterday at the public hearing on the Electoral Act amendment that the National Assembly is committed to that target.

“He said that it is not only achievable but they will ensure that it is actualize.”

Yakubu added that the immediate area of attention for the Commission would be the resumption of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) by the first quarter of 2021.

He said that the exercise would continue for at least six months to the 2023 general elections.

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“We will also use the opportunity as required by law to clean up the register of voters.

“We are happy with our register of voters. It is robust but will continue to see ways by which we can improve the quality of the register.

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“I am saying so because the credibility of any democratic election draws from the credibility of the register of voters.

He added that without a clean register of voters, there could not be a credible election, assuring that INEC was committed to cleaning up the register of voters.

“In doing so, we hope to introduce a new technology for voters enrollment in 2021 drawing from the lessons we learned in the last exercise in 2017 and 2018.”

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“We have exactly 799 days to the next general election holding on Feb. 18, 2023.

“We have identified 1508 activities that we must accomplish between now and election in 2023. Some will be carried out simultaneously.”

Yakubu the former acting Chairman, Muasu and other national commissioners for holding fourth in the last one months and for the successful conduct of 15 by-elections in 11 states on Dec. 5.

Earlier in his remarks, Mu’azu said that while holding forth the commission was able to conduct 15 by-elections successfully.

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He commended members and staff of the commission for their supports and successes recorded while awaiting Yakubu’s confirmation.

He also commended all stakeholders who made the by-elections a success.

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In the news

Mahmood Yakubu will serve as INEC Chairman for another 5 years?

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Senate President Ahmad Lawan congratulated the nominee and wished him success in his second term.

SENATE CONFIRMS MAHMOOD YAKUBU’S REAPPOINTMENT AS INEC CHAIRMAN

The Senate yesterday confirmed the reappointment of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for another five years.

Yakubu was first appointed as chairman of INEC on October 21, 2015, by President Muhammadu Buhari. He was reappointed after his first tenure lapsed in October this year. His confirmation followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on INEC chaired by Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano).

Gaya, while presenting the committee’s report, said Yakubu possessed the requisite qualifications for the INEC’s top job and, therefore, recommended his confirmation.

Opposition PDP senators, who spoke after the presentation of the report, backed the reappointment of Yakubu, whom they described as unbiased and apolitical.

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The Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, commended Yakubu for the technological innovations he introduced at INEC, especially the transmission of election results to the central portal from polling units.

“He is moving in the right direction and we should give him the necessary support,” said Sandy Onor (PDP, Cross River).

Yakubu had, during his screening last week, challenged the National Assembly to expeditiously consider and pass the Electoral Act to ensure a seamless 2023 election. According to him, the amended electoral framework is germane to the conduct of the 2023 general elections.

The INEC boss said elections could not be conducted in an atmosphere of uncertainty, adding that work on the electoral framework has to be finalised before 2023 elections would be conducted.

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He said when the commission met with members of the Senate and House committees on the electoral matter in Lagos, they had extensive interaction during which they submitted 78 areas of electoral amendments. He said he also forwarded additional 13 areas of an amendment to the two committees.

“The earlier that is done, the better for us. There is no way we can conduct election successfully with uncertainty unless the legal framework is finalised for us to deploy our regulations and guidelines for the election,” Yakubu said.

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Buhari writes Senate in bid to confirm Yakubu’s second term as INEC Chairman

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Yakubu earlier in November handed over his duties as chairman of the electoral body to Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Muazu at an event held at INEC headquarters in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the Senate seeking approval for the confirmation of Professor Mahmoud Yakubu for a second term in office as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Senate President Ahmad Lawan read the letter on Tuesday at the resumption of legislative proceedings after a one month recess.

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In his letter, President Buhari solicited for the lawmakers’ expeditious consideration of his request for another five-year tenure for Mahmoud as INEC Chairman.

Ahmed is currently acting in that capacity pending when the Senate confirms the reappointment of Professor Yakubu as INEC chairman by President Muhammadu Buhari.

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Professor Mahmood Yakubu hands over the leadership mantle to acting INEC Chairman, Ahmed Muazu, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on November 9, 2020. Photo: Channels TV/ Sodiq Adelakun.

Muazu has however assured that the departure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu and other National Commissioners from the commission will not affect electoral activities.

He said this during an interactive session with election stakeholders in Bayelsa State ahead of the December 5 bye-elections in the state.

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Update: INEC gets acting Chairman as Mahmood Yakubu steps aside

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President Buhari had on October 27, 2020 reappointed Yakubu, a professor of Political History and International Studies, for another tenure of five years subject to confirmation by the senate.

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, is today expected to hand over to an acting chairman who will oversee the affairs of the agency pending the confirmation of his (Yakubu) reappointment by the Senate.

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The ceremony is scheduled to take place at the conference hall of the commission’s headquarters in Abuja at 2pm, according to an invitation sent out to journalists by Yakubu’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi.

Until his reappointment by President Muhammadu Buhari, Yakubu was first appointed INEC chairman in October 2015 but was officially sworn in on November 9, 2015.

Noble Reporters Media gathered that the INEC boss would hand over to one of the seven national commissioners whose tenure will not lapse before November 9.

It is, however, still unclear which of the electoral commissioners will occupy the chairmanship position in acting capacity pending Yakubu’s return.

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The seven national commissioners whose tenure will not expire before November 9 include Abubakar Nahuche, Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Mu’azu (rtd), Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu and Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola. Others are Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, and Barrister Festus Okoye.

NRM gathered that the remaining five commissioners have served two terms and, therefore, are not eligible to act in Yakubu’s stead.

But in a terse message to journalists, Oyekanmi confirmed that “the acting chairman will be introduced at the event on Monday.”

Buhari, in a letter to the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, said: “In accordance with the provision of Section 154 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate, the nomination of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu for appointment as chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a second and final term.”

#Newsworthy…

In the news

NOv. 9: INEC Chairman, Mahmood set to make way for new Chairman.

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Mahmood will handover until the Senate confirms him as chairman after the nomination from Buhari.

Professor Mahmood Yakubu will be handing over the position of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to pave way for a new acting chairman.

The handing over will be done on Monday, November 9.

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This is despite President Muhammadu Buhari nominating Mahmood for re-appointment as chairman of the electoral body.

Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi told NRM‘s known Media:

“The Hon Chairman’s (Yakubu) handing over ceremony to be held on Monday 9th November 2020 at the Conference Hall, INEC Headquarters.”

#Newsworthy…

In the news

INEC fixes 2023 presidential election date. [Nigeria]

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Chairman of the Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Thursday.

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu on Thursday disclosed that the 2023 Presidential election will hold on the 18th of February 2023.

In his good will message at the inauguration of the special adhoc committee on the review of the 1999 constitution, the INEC Chairman told members of the House of Representatives that they have about 855 days to the next general election.

#Newsworthy…

In the news

INEC set to amend electoral act; 34 amendment proposals submitted

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The electoral commission INEC, on Monday, said it will propose 34 amendments to the Electoral Act 2010 Amendment Bill that will include punishments for electoral violators.

The Commission also said the bill will make provisions for the security of lives and property during elections.

The INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, said this in Lagos at a retreat on the review of the electoral legal framework.

The retreat was in partnership with the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).

Yakubu said the electoral body last year received the draft of the bill from the Senate Committee on INEC which had been presented to the executive for assent before the 2019 general elections.

He added that INEC had shared the draft bill with the National Commissioners, Directors, Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) and senior officials in the 36 states and the FCT.

“As long as violators of electoral laws are not penalised, we will continue to have issues with our elections. As part of the reforms of the key components of the Electoral Act, we will like to see the effective sanctions of those who violate electoral laws of this country.

“Any country that does not penalise offenders is doomed and we must find a way of penalising electoral offenders so that impunity can be at best reduced or even eliminated completely,” Yakubu said.

The INEC chairman said the review of the electoral act will increase transparency and credibility of the electoral process, and the reduction of electoral banditry.

“Listening to Nigerians, it is clear that a review of the Electoral Act and our electoral legal framework in general, must be anchored on curbing incidents of violence and sundry malpractices in the electoral process.

“It is also to ensure that violators of electoral laws are effectively sanctioned. It must deepen the deployment of technology in elections.

“It will also ensure inclusivity in the electoral process for marginalised segments of the society such as women, youth and persons living with disabilities,” Yakubu said.

INEC Director of Legal Services, Oluwatoyin Babalola, said the proposed of the retreat was to harmonise all proposals for amendment to the Electoral Act 2010 for presentation to the National Assembly.

Mrs Babalola said, “There are 34 proposed amendments elaborated in four columns.”

Also, Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Sam Olumekun, proposed the need for a special court for electoral offences.

Olumekun noted that the special courts should have a defined time frame for prosecution and speedy administration of justice.

On electoral litigation the Lagos REC also urged the commission to equip the legal department and prepare the staff to represent the commission in election matters.

He said, “The commission should critically examine the issue of conflict of interests among our external solicitors that represent the petitioners in other matters.

INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu

“The commission should ensure that such solicitors do not represent any petitioner throughout the period of election petitions in the tribunals and courts of competent jurisdiction.

“While we appreciate the effort of the commission in dealing with legal issues, the commission should continue to equip the Legal Department and prepare the staff to represent the commission in election matters,” he said.

#Newsworthy…