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ActionAid Urges INEC to Localise Deployment Of Election Materials
The ActionAid Nigeria appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to localized deployment of the election materials and other election logistics, apart from local volunteers at every polling unit to enhance transparency of the election.
The ActionAid Country Director, Ene Obi made the call yesterday in Abuja at the one-day roundtable discussion on the logistics performance in the 2023 general election.
The event to discuss the logistics performance of the 2023 General Elections was also to serve as a platform for the review of the performance of logistics deployed in the just concluded 2023 elections, share experiences, identify gaps, limitations, and learning, while proffering possible practical alternatives for improved logistics delivery.
“We need to localized deployment election logistics materials and have volunteers at every level. We need to rise as citizens and say we will do the right thing. There were adequate plans in place for this particular election, what happened next is for an INEC to explain, but the truth is that you cannot be repeating the same issues.
“When the logistics framework was developed, INEC itself testified that this was the best that they have done, so what happens, we do not know. We were assured that the central bank was going to give that money to INEC, and the commission that received the money said they said they had all the provisions, but did they actually have it?” Obi said.
According to her “INEC chairman said one time that the CBN had given them all the money but when you ask the REC, they will tell you something different that they did not get the money or they didn’t get it at all and it truncate all channels.”
Also, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chief Tony Ojukwu, said election monitoring is one of the functions of the commission.
“The Commission will continue to monitor the elections in Nigeria and provide updates, share information and make recommendations to the appropriate authorities,” Ojukwu said.
The keynote speaker and former INEC Commissioner, Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu, noted that there is the need for more training of INEC staff in order to reduce human error in election logistics management which supports sabotage and political interference.
He said, “INEC should seriously consider the use of safe local facilities to make logistics less dependence on transport providers and make monitoring and supervision should be priority.
“A proper assessment of the logistics for the 2023 general election must recognize that although election-day activities or voting operations are probably the most critical in the electoral cycle, they are not the sole activities in administering an election.
“Lessons and the way forward from the 2023 general elections; No alternative to early and comprehensive planning; Inadequate capacity in the Commission, especially in deploying technological tools; INEC LMS -Logistics Management System. Need for more training of INEC staff on these tools. This will also reduce human agency in election logistics management, which supports sabotage and political interference.”
A group of concerned citizens has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to sabotage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms on local refineries.
The group, Concerned Nigerians led by its National Coordinator Obinna Francis, claims to have uncovered a sinister plot to stop the supply of crude oil to domestic refineries.
According to Francis, the plot is being orchestrated by a cabal within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), in collaboration with importers of fake petrol.
The group alleges that this cabal is seeking to undermine the government’s economic reforms, which have led to a significant reduction in fuel prices and a subsequent decrease in the cost of food items.
The concerned citizens believe that the plot is driven by a desire to return Nigeria to the era of petrol importation and the reintroduction of subsidies.
They argue that cutting off crude oil supply to domestic refineries would create a shortage of refined products, forcing the country to import fuel.
The group claims that the cabal has been manipulating officials in the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to justify the planned refusal to supply crude oil to local refineries.
They also allege that the cabal has the support of individuals seeking regime change, who hope to capitalize on public anger and protests to bring down the government.
Francis added: “The members of the cabal, working through certain officials of NNPCL, have been manipulating their colleagues in the NUPRC, which has responsibility for overseeing the supply of crude oil to refineries in Nigeria.
“Their plot includes sabotaging exploration and distribution infrastructure to justify the planned refusal to cut off crude supplies. This unholy alliance has the support of individuals who have been angling for a regime change.
“Our suspicion is that while the NNPCL/NUPRC cabal pursue the monetary gains of truncating the steady supply of refined products, their political wing anticipates that a disruption in refining capacity would lead to petrol scarcity, drive fuel prices up and hike food prices with the attendant anger against the government of the day.
“They desire to weaponize such public anger into anti-government protests that would bring the administration down. We are concerned that if not stopped, this plot will undo all the gains that have been made in the implementation of economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government and doom us all.
“We are further concerned that such a plot at this critical time of our economic evolution would plunge the country into an abyss from which it may never resurface.”
The concerned citizens are calling on President Tinubu and the Department of State Services (DSS) to intervene and prevent the plot from being executed. They praised the president’s economic reforms, which have driven Nigeria towards energy sustainability and revived the oil industry.
The group warned that if the plot is not stopped, it would undo all the gains made by the government and plunge the country into economic chaos.
They urged the president to ensure that no one in NNPCL, NUPRC, or any other connected agency undermines the achievements recorded in the sector.
Actor-turned-politician Desmond Elliot has become a hot topic online after a video surfaced showing his emotional reaction on Monday, shortly after Mojisola Meranda resigned as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Earlier, SPEARNEWS reported that Ms Meranda announced her resignation during a plenary session.
Following her resignation, the impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, was reinstated to his former position.
In a viral video, Mr Elliot, who represents Surulere Constituency 1 in the Assembly, was emotional over Ms Meranda’s resignation.
Dressed in a black native outfit, the 51-year-old attempted to deliver a farewell speech but was overcome with emotion and struggled to hold back tears.
At one point in the viral video, he found it difficult to continue speaking and requested that another lawmaker take the floor while he composed himself.
“Madam Speaker, can you allow others to speak first?” he asked.
Ms Meranda responded, “Have your seat,” prompting him to sit down, covering his face with one hand as he wiped away tears.
Seyi Lawal, an All Progressives Congress (APC) representative from Ikeja Constituency 1, was granted permission to speak in place of Mr Elliot, who has served in the House since April 2015.
Kano State government has made arrangements to feed 91,000 people in 91 designated centres during the 2025 Ramadan Feeding Programme.
Flagging off the feeding programme in m Fagge Local Government Area on Sunday evening, the Deputy Governor and Chairman of the programme, Alhaji Aminu Abdulsalam, said that that the initiative would run for 27 days.
He said that the programme was aimed at supporting vulnerable residents and would provide daily iftar meals to fasting Muslims, alleviating the challenges faced during Ramadan.
“Since the assumption of office, Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf, has institutionalised this initiative to support vulnerable residents by providing daily iftar meals during the holy month of Ramadan.
“The programme, which is part of the state’s annual humanitarian efforts, aims to alleviate the difficulties faced by fasting Muslims during Ramadan.
“Recognising the needs of the state’s large population of Ramadan observers, the Kano State Government remains committed to ensuring that relief reaches those in need,” he explained.
Abdulsalam expressed satisfaction with the seamless commencement of the initiative.
He further urged the catering companies involved to ensure prompt and efficient delivery of meals to all feeding centers, in order to achieve the programme’s objectives.
Abdulsalam was accompanied by key officials, including the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, as well as his counterpart in the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Sheikh Tijjani Auwal. (NAN)