* Moves to strengthen ties with development partners
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decried the poor participation of many of the 30 registered political parties in elections.
He said that the active participation of parties in election is essential for the democratic system to be stronger than what it is.
The INEC chairman underscored this concern at three separate meetings with the leaderships of the International Republican Institute (IRI), International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
He said, “As we speak, we have 30 registered political parties in Nigeria. But not all of them participate in elections. But we go through one election or the other you see only few political parties participating. For the system to be stronger than what it is, parties must be strengthened. They are the only vehicles for vying for elective positions. The political party is the only platform recognised by the Constitution to vie for elective positions,” he said.
Yakubu added: “Making elections better is not just a function of here and now. We shall continue to explore ways to strengthen the electoral processes in areas such as capacity building, relationship with political parties, issues arising from field experience and how we can fix them, as well as logistical challenges.”
The professor said INEC under his leadership would build on the existing relationship with development partners to improve the electoral process.
Yakubu acknowledged the role of development partners and stressed that they have “continued to advance the cause of democracy through the sound management of the electoral processes based on international best practice.”
He supported efforts by the development partners to carry out self-appraisal, with a view to improving the partnership and support to the electoral process in Nigeria.
Earlier, the Country Director of IRI Sentell Barnes, commended the new leadership of the commission in its strides so far.
He said: “We commend your unwavering commitment to improving the electoral processes in Nigeria”.
…Redeploys admin secs in Rivers, Edo, Akwa Ibom, 6 others
INEC has redeployed its administrative secretaries in nine states.
The states are: Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Abia, Anambra, Rivers and Enugu.
According to a statement by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Augusta C. Ogakwu, “The routine re-deployment of nine of its Administrative Secretaries is with immediate effect.”
The statement added that the affected Administrative Secretaries are to conclude handing over processes before Wednesday, February 3, 2016.
The re-deployment is as follows:
Evurulobi Chinedu from Abia State was redeployed from Ebonyi to Imo State.
Oluocha Obi Brown from Abia state was posted from Edo to Delta State.
Onyekwere E. C from Abia State was moved from Imo to Anambra State.
Aniemene Chukwu from Anambra was posted from Akwa Ibom to Enugu.
T.O.N Ongene from Ebonyi was posted from Delta to Rivers State.
Mbanaja Charles from Imo State was deployed to Ebonyi from Abia.
Oscar Lee Charles Amaechi from Imo State was posted to Edo from Anambra.
Obijuru Chika from Imo was posted to Abia from Rivers State and,
Nathan Owhor from Rivers State was posted to Akwa Ibom from Enugu.
-Leadership