INEC receives Police/DSS report on Rivers rerun election, hands 28 indicted staff out for prosecution

*Commends, reward outstanding INEC, security officials

*Offers 2 youth corpers automatic employment for good conduct

*To carry out major overhaul of Rivers State INEC office

…Anambra governorship election scheduled for November 18

Acting on the report of the Joint Police/DSS Special Investigation Panel on the Rivers State Re-Run elections of 10^th December 2016 and the Report of its Administrative Inquiry into the elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has decided that all the 28 indicted staff should face internal disciplinary action for gross misconduct, dereliction of duty and negligence.

The Commission also commended five staff and ad-hoc staff for outstanding performances and offered automatic employment to two corps members.

These were disclosed by Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Prince Solomon Soyebi, during a press briefing at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday.

The IVEC Chairman said, “The Commission received the report of the Joint Police/DSS Special Investigation Panel on the Rivers State rerun elections of 10^th December 2016. From the report, we gathered that the police have concluded their investigations and 25 INEC staff who were indicted will be prosecuted.

“The Commission has resolved to fully co-operate with the police in this process. In addition and without prejudice to their prosecution, the indicted INEC staff will also face the Commission’s internal disciplinary process,” he said.

He explained that three additional staff not captured in the police report but indicted by the Commission’s Administrative Inquiry Committee, would also face disciplinary action alongside the 25 indicted by the Police Committee.

Prince Soyebi stressed that INEC would not shield any of its staff that engaged in any conduct capable of undermining the integrity of the electoral process.

Also acting on the Commission’s Administrative Inquiry Committee recommendation,  Solomon Soyebi, the IVEC chairman, disclosed that, “The Commission also accepted the recommendation to commend a number of ad-hoc and permanent staff, as well as security officials who performed exceptionally well under very difficult circumstances of the elections.”

In particular, the Soyebi listed “Prof Ralph Echebiri and Prof. Oji O. Ekemankama both of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike who served in Rivers West and East Senatorial Districts respectively; Aguna Isaac and Ademola Oluwatoba of the National Youth Service Corps, who served as Presiding Officers; and the Divisional Police Officer of Phalga at the time of the election, for his exemplary conduct and professionalism.”

He further disclosed that Aguna Isaac and Ademola Oluwatoba will be offered automatic employment by the Commission on completion of their youth corps service.

The IVEC Chairman revealed that arising from the lessons learned in the aftermath of the Rivers rerun, the Commission further accepted the immediate implementation of several recommendations that would improve the electoral process and stressed that a major overhaul of the entire Rivers State INEC office would be carried out.

…Anambra governorship election scheduled for November 18

In the meantime, the Anambra State governorship election has been announced for November 18 this year.

The date, Timetable and schedule of Activities for the election were made public on Thursday during the press conference addressed by the Chairman of the Information and Voter Education (IVEC) Committee, Prince Solomon A. Soyebi.

Soyebi read in a document containing details of the planned election that, “In compliance with the provisions of section 178 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 25 (7) and (8) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled Saturday, 18^thNovember 2017 for the Anambra state governorship election.”

In the document signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Augusta C. Ogakwu, 18^thAugust, 2017 is scheduled for commencement of campaigns by political parties in compliance with Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) which provides 90 days before polling day.

The timetable also indicates that 22^nd July -2^nd September, 2017 has been scheduled for conduct of party primaries including resolution of disputes arising from primaries. This, the document states, is to enable political parties democratically nominate candidates for the election as required by Section 87 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).

“Wednesday 18^th October, 2017 has been scheduled for the publication of official Register of Voters for the election, while Thursday 19^th October, 2017 is the date for publication of the final list of nominated candidates by Political Parties in accordance with Sections 20 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) which provides not later than 30 days before the election and Section 34 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) which also provides at least 30 days before the election respectively.

“Thursday 16^th November, 2017, is the date fixed as the last day for campaigns in accordance to Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) which prohibits advertisements or broadcasts of campaigns 24 hours prior to the day of election,” the document stated.