2023 Election

By Our Reporter

The Labour Party (LP) Edo North Senatorial Candidate 2023 and the National Youth Leader of Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Comrade Eragbe Anselm has assured the good people of Edo North Senatorial district of qualitative representation if voted into power to represent his people at the National Assembly.

Comrade Eragbe made this promise during his courtesy visit to the Onwueweko, clan head of Okpekpe Kingdom in Etsako East local government area of Edo state, HRH. APA Peter Abalume Osigbemhe.

The Labour Party (LP) Edo North Senatorial candidate is the President of the Imiekpe Family Foundation, IFF for which HRH is the grand patron.

The visit by the Senatorial candidate to his traditional ruler was occasioned by the victory attained in the affirmation and ratification by the Labour Party delegates at the primary which took place on the 13th July, 2022 in Auchi, Etsako West LGA.

Comrade Eragbe who was warmly welcomed to the palace told the Royal father that he was in his palace to officially present himself to the palace as the Edo North senatorial candidate of Labour Party for the 2023 general election.

On his part, the traditional ruler, the Onwueweko, Clan head of Okpekpe Kingdom, HRH APA Peter Abalume Osigbemhe assured the Edo North Labour Party senatorial candidate of his peoples support towards his victory at the poll.

The Royal father however advised him to go about his peaceful campaigns and what the labour party stands for to win the hearts of the electorates in order to move the constituency forward.”

By Tunde John

Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has congratulated former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his emergence as the flag-bearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday at M.K.O Abiola stadium, Abuja.

Atiku who called for collaboration with candidates across the nation to fix the economy, curb the insecurity, and put an end to the rising cost of living, also thanked friends and supporters for keying into his team’s vision to provide #RealSolutions and #FixNigeria!

He stated this in a statement he released in the early hours of Sunday morning shortly after Atiku Abubakar was declared winner of the PDP presidential primary.

The statement he released via his twitter handle reads:

I thank all our friends and supporters across the nation for keying into our vision to provide #RealSolutions and #FixNigeria!

I congratulate the winner of tonight’s #PDPPresidentialPrimary, His Excellency, our former Vice-President, Alhaji @Atiku Abubakar, on his emergence as the Presidential flag-bearer of our party, the @OfficialPDPNig.

As we prepare for the future, I am proud that our message of #RealSolutions and deliberate leadership has resonated with millions of young Nigerians across the nation.

Now, we must all rally around all our candidates across the nation to fix our economy, curb the insecurity, and put an end to the rising cost of living.

By Sylvanus Viashima

Jalingo (Precise Post) – The campaign organization of Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday met with critical stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba as they continue to scout for support for his Presidential ambition ahead of the party’s primary elections.

Leader of the delegation and former Speaker of Adamawa state House of Assembly Alhaji Sadiq Dasin said that Osinbajo’s track record have put ahead of every other aspirant for the office of Nigeria’s President in the forthcoming general elections.

He urged the delegates and other stakeholders to forget about any distractions and vote the vice president so that the party’s victory at the election would be guaranteed.

” You are aware that the Vice President is currently one of the closest person to the president and he understands the challenges and opportunities in the country more than any other person.

“This and the fact that he has demonstrated uncommon leadership qualities, nationalism, statesmanship and has acquired massive experience, he is simply the most suitable person to lead our great party to victory.

“We are delighted with the result of our interaction with the delegates from Taraba and we hope that they will do the right thing and make the right choice when the time comes” he said.

Speaking in a similar vain, Alhaji Ali Sani, a Senatorial Aspirant from Taraba and a prominent member of the delegation, emphasized that Vice President Osinbajo was the right man for the job having learned the ropes of running the affairs of the country for the past seven years.

Sani observed that as a loyal vice president, Prof Osinbajo has acquired all the qualities that the country required in a leader that could deliver the dividends of democracy to all parts of Nigeria.

The state coordinator of the group Sen Bashir Marafa, a former deputy speaker of Taraba Assembly said that the state stands to gain a lot with Osinbajo becoming the president as that would guarantee the completion of ongoing federal government projects in the state.

Marafa who is also aspiring for the Senatorial seat of Taraba Central, urged the delegates not to be distracted but vote unanimously for Prof. Osinbajo.

By Gabriel Atumeyi

Abuja (Precise Post) – An aspirant for the President of Nigeria on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Ibrahim Bello Dauda has said that Nigeria must recommit itself to democratic ideals and ethos if it is to find its way out of the multiple challenges currently confronting it.

Dauda made this assertion on Monday while speaking to newsmen in Abuja on his intention to contest for the presidency come 2023.

According to him, his years of experience being around the political, bureaucratic and private sector has imbibed him with the requisite knowledge and competence to effectively deal with the situation.

He said, ” What we are going through now, when you talk of insecurity and economic problems, including others like secessionist agitations and the rest of them. They are not the major problems we have. They are secondary problems. The major problem that we have is leadership that is enshrouded or beclouded by sentiment, negative emotions, and selfish interest.

“So we need a leadership that is free from all these. When you put fairness, justice, equity and honesty in the system, all these agitations will come to an end.

Speaking further, he said, “I am in the race to provide these particular values in leadership, which if entrenched, will gradually eliminate Nigeria’s problems. I believe I have the agenda, whether economically, or educationally speaking or on the security front.

Speaking on the security situation in the country, Dauda said the current approach has been reactionary instead of proactive.

“On the insecurity rocking our dear country, I will take a wholistic view, to identify the cause of the problem. What we are currently doing is a reactionary process rather than preventive.

“If by the grace of God I get the opportunity, I am going to adopt a preventive instead of a reactionary approach. Right now we are reacting.

Dauda also disclosed that Nigeria economic woes can only be reversed by opening up and liberalizing the economy to reverse the negative balance of trade.

“My government will be focused on entrepreneurs development. Providing training, funds and enabling environment so that critical sectors of the economy can industrialize and reduce our over reliance on import.

“If you don’t industrialize, you cannot develop. You have to look at the laws that are serving as impediments. We are going to fund research in a way that has never been seen in this country.

… Lampoons APC for Leaving the South East Out of 2023 Calculations.

… Argues PDP Remains Best Option for Ndigbo if left out in power equation.

By Chris Udochukwu

Abuja (Precise Post) – A former member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, has called on Igbo leaders across political divides to urgently convoke a summit of Ndigbo, if the zone is not to be left outside the power loop for yet another eight years.

“The eight years of the current All Progressives Congress, APC-led federal government – most of which the Igbo spent lamenting its near obliteration from the country’s power calculus – is gradually coming to an end, yet there is neither an indication that the situation would be redressed, nor is there a concerted attempt by Ndigbo to avert a repeat of the status quo,” Hon. Ogene said in statement released today.

A chieftain of the APC, Hon. Ogene who served as Director, Media and Publicity in the Party’s 2021 gubernatorial campaigns in Anambra State, stated that “it was particularly irksome that in the clamour for the rotation of the presidential stool to the South, APC leaders appear to have deliberately refrained from specifically zoning the position to the South East, in the spirit of equity, fairness, good conscience and precedent.

“For those who are wont to hide under a finger, by citing the less than admirable acceptance of the party in the region, providence and precedent offers a simple answer: there once was a President who emerged in spite of electoral rejection by his ward, local government, state and region.

“Now that Ndigbo find themselves in similar situation, why would the rules of engagement change suddenly? Are the power brokers who despite everything else resolved the 1999 quagmire in favour of the preservation of national unity no longer alive to apply the same balm of inclusivity in order to accommodate Ndigbo?

“Today’s APC stands in the gap as the behemoth People’s Democratic Party, PDP at the time it took the largely unpopular but historic decision to support a candidate from the South West to emerge as President. With a country bursting at the seams by feelings of alienation, wouldn’t an affirmative action initiative offer some form of panacea, if not outright healing, for the many disparate agitators who struttle the landscape?

“For every cursory observer of the ferocious politicking currently going on in the APC, however, it would be akin to wanting the sun to stand still, should one crave a Presidential ticket from the party for a South Easterner.

“Speaking realistically, once the position is zoned to the South and a candidate emerges from either the South West or South South, that forecloses the possibility of getting a Vice Presidential slot for Ndigbo. And in the event that the Party triumphs in the 2023 election, its exclusion from the power loop would be stretched by another eight years.

“This, therefore, is a wake-up call on all Igbo leaders of note to gird their loins and seek negotiations and accommodation for the greater political interest of the South East.

“Not too long ago, Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, in a barely disguised pursuit of personal interest, left the PDP for the APC, on the excuse that Ndigbo won’t be available for a Vice Presidential slot under the PDP. Today, with the possibility of getting even that in the APC a mirage, Igbo leaders, including Umahi, may well begin to positively reconsider that offer – unless, of course, if the APC weans itself off it’s seeming anti-Igbo stance and do what is right.

“In deed, let’s face it, the only reason former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are considered serious contenders for the Presidency is their hands-on experience on the top job, as former and sitting Vice Presidents.

“In deed, with the APC almost certainly going South, and the PDP, North, Ndigbo ought to commence an urgent process of political re-engineering – one which would attract greater political capital for the people of the region.

“Only two days ago, in a unique display of brinkmanship, three aspiring presidential candidates of the PDP met and resolved to forge a common front through a consensus agreement. A close look at the dramatis parsonae involved in the consensus talks would easily reveal that besides personal ambition, what is at stake is the greater interest of the entire North.

“With Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal(North west), Bala Mohammed(North east), and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki(North central), leading the charge, anyone with a mere passing interest in Nigerian politics would understand that the presidential train is about leaving the station.

“In deed, I can vouchsafe that the Sokoto State Governor, Tambuwal, widely acknowledged as the ‘Unifier,’ is a true friend of Ndigbo, and would not let people of the area down in the current permutations.

“While 2023 may appear to be a long shot in the presidential quest of the South East, 2031 would certainly not be – especially if it forms part of the demands in the negotiations leading up to the emergence of presidential candidates, and ultimately the country’s next president.”

….As he prepares for his 2023 presidential aspiration declaration in Abuja

By Ogechi Okorie

Abuja (Precise Post) – The incumbent National Youth Leader of Labour Party (LP) in Nigeria, and the National Organizing Secretary of the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI), in Nigeria, Comrade Eragbe Anslem Aphimia has commended President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for zoning the presidency to the southern Nigeria as he prepares for his presidential declaration in FCT, Abuja ahead of the 2023 general election.

This was contained in a statement he personally signed and released via his Facebook page on Friday.

Comrade Anslem, who is a trained Metallurgical and Materials Engineer from the Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, and a COREN registered engineer, is vast with the knowledge of developmental economics and resource mobilization locally and internationally.

Having served as the first executive President of the Ahmadu Bello University Students Union Government, ABUSUG; ABU, Zaria 2002-2004, the young Engineer is prepared for the task ahead as he has equipped himself with a self-developed governing blueprint tagged “The Vision 2023-2053” that will enable him to hit the ground running.

His aim, which he said is, “Towards the emergence of a New Nigeria 2023-2053 on the platform of effective leadership capacity building and character development”, Comrade Anslem is driven by the zeal to rebuilding the nation with equity, fairness, parity and justice which has propelled him to unveiling a well articulated National development plan as a vision 2023-2053.

According to him, this manifesto will set the stage for the cardinal principles and focus upon which Eragbe’s political and economic philosophies for Nigeria shall be anchored.

Eragbe is a visionary and proactive leader and that was why in implementing the mandate of his office as the National Organizing Secretary of the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions, (ASURI) in Nigeria, he provided national solution to the seemingly intractable housing deficit delivery and payment modes that will lead to the development and delivery of houses across the 774 LGAs in Nigeria for civil servants and non civil servants alike 2022-2037 on mortgage repayments basis.

This vision has achieved an approved funding for the entire Research sector in Nigeria, for the next 25 years through foreign direct Investment loan funding at single digit interest rate in implementing the research mandates nationwide 2022- 2047 in Nigeria.

Eragbe no doubt, has brought to the fore, certain critical and burning contentious issues which if harmonised, would be germane in rebuilding a strong, virile and vibrant socio-economic and political system in Nigeria 2023-2053.

This is encapsulated in his TRAFG MANIFESTO to be unveiled with critical financial and cost benefits analysis that accounts for economic profitability and financial viability of investments.

Eragbe said, there is no gain saying today, that Nigeria has been dubbed the butt of nations epitomizing it as the poverty capital of the world.

Eragbe said that, Nigeria occupying the position of the poverty capital of the world is unacceptable to him as an aspiring president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2023, and considering the landmark achievement he has made working with the National Leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions ASURI in the last 12 years (2011-2022).

The feat we have achieved in funding Research for National development and housing delivery across the 774 LGAs nationwide is unprecedented and would be extended to all aspects of our national endeavours.

Eragbe stressed that he would not fail to give compliments to those who have thrived in their own ways to ensure that Nigeria works and takes its pride of place in comity of developed nations. These include; COMRADE DR TCN NDUBUAKU, the National Secretary General of the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions, ASURI, Dr. ONUNKA NMAMDI, the ASURI National President and all the central working committee, CWC members of ASURI who have been consistent in the pursuit of a greater Nigeria through Research, Technology and Innovation as evinced in the struggle for the National Research and Innovation Council, NRIC BILL 2022 sequel to it’s earlier passage in 2019 but was not assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

Eragbe believes, that by harnessing the abundant human and material resources that Nigeria is endowed with, the goal of attaining productivity optimization by engaging the numerous will see us rewriting our history with landmark peace, progress, prosperity and cohesion as a united people using Research.

HIS VISION 2023-2053 MANIFESTO

Comrade Eragbe Anslem Aphimia believes that, the main political consideration to be taken seriously is the zoning of the seat of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Southern Nigeria in 2023 by all political parties in Nigeria.

Eragbe believes, this will set the tone for healing the political agitations and suspicions that have risen with calls for secession from the south east under the Indiginous People of Biafra, (IPOB) and from the south west by the Oduduwa Republic and Niger Delta Region respectively.

He also acknowledged President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR and the initiative of the ruling All Progressive Congress Party, (APC) national leadership and stakeholders during the their extraordinary Central Working Committee meeting of the party on Wednesday 23rd February, 2022 for adopting a zoning formula that will cede their presidential ticket to southern Nigeria in 2023.

Arising from above, it is clear that the stage is now set for the choice of a Vice President from Northern Nigeria to herald all possible permutations towards the 2023 general election in Nigeria.

In any case, Comrade Eragbe Anslem shall be unveiling “THE VISION” as a roadmap plan of how he intends to deliver Nigeria in the light of leadership capacity building and character development anchored on productivity optimization to birth a new Nigeria 2023-2053 using the Labour Party (LP) political platform in addressing the naughty issues of:

a: The separatist or secessionist issues of Biafra, Oduduwa, Niger Delta Republics etc.

b: The perspectives and essence of implementing true federalism to engender resource mobilization and human Capacity development for:

a: wealth creation
b: Economic Diversification
c: Job Creation
d: The menace of insecurity across Nigeria and provision of National Security Solutions.
e: Revamping the Ajaokuta integrated Steel Company and all the Minerals development potentials across the regions of Nigeria.

f: The derivation principles and redistribution of resource strategy for Regional & National developments.

g: Critical Social & Economic Infrastructural development and funding mechanisms in areas of Power, Industrial Sector, Agricultural mechanization, Minerals Development, Roads, Education, Healthcare, Pension and Gratuities, Wages and Salaries, ICT etc.

H: The Youth, Demography and roles in National Development in view of the 2023 general elections shall be pivotal in harnessing the over 200 million population for productivity optimization 2023-2053

Details of events shall be made public for the extension of invitation nationwide.

God be our helper
COMRADE ERAGBE ANSLEMAPHIMIA (C.REG: COA)National Youth LeaderLabour Party (LP)+234(0)8037009181&National Organizing Secretary Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions ASURI in Nigeria & 2023 PRESIDENTIALHOPEFUL Federal Republic of Nigeria, FRN.

By Chris Udochukwu

Abuja (Precise Post) – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has vowed to track campaign spending and finances of Political Parties in the forthcoming 2023 general election.

The National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education(IVEC), Barr. Festus Okoye disclosed this on Monday in his keynote address at a 2-day Capacity Building Workshop for Heads of Voter Education and Publicity(VEP) and Public Affairs Officers of the Commission from 17 States of Nigeria in Delta State.

Okoye stated that at the operational and administrative level, the Commission will monitor the Congresses, Conventions, Meetings and Primaries of the Political Parties. Adding that the Commission must track campaign spending and finances of Political Parties.

The full speech which outlined the activities the commission will engage in ahead the 2023 general election reads in full:

On behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I welcome our Heads of Department and Public Affairs Officers from 17 States of Nigeria to this Capacity Building Workshop.

Knowledge is central to democracy and communication is at the heart of our work as election managers. It is imperative and fundamental that we continually and continuously build the capacity of our frontline staff to understand issues in the electoral process and communicate effectively.

I congratulate the Director Voter Education and Publicity Victor Aluko and his team for putting together this program. Let me also thank the European Center for Electoral Support (ECES) for supporting this program. We expect additional support as we progress to the 2023 general election.

A Busy and Challenging Year for the Commission

The year 2022 will be busy and challenging for the Commission. It will present complex realities and showcase the complexities of our democracy and electoral process. In the year 2022, the Commission will release the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 general election. The Commission will give the statutory notice signifying the date of election and the place for the submission of nominations. The Timetable and Schedule of Activities will contain the period for the commencement of campaigns and rallies in public by Political Parties and the last day of campaigns by Political Parties. It will contain the period for party primaries and submission of names of nominated candidates and resolution of issues and challenges arising from party primaries. It will contain the period for the submission of personal particulars of candidates, withdrawal, and the replacement of candidates and publication of the final list of candidates. It will contain the period for the submission of the names of Poll Agents. It will set out the period for the publication of official register of voters and the
Notice of Poll and election date.

Operational Issues and Challenges

At the operational and administrative level, the Commission will monitor the Congresses, Conventions, Meetings and Primaries of the Political Parties. The Commission must track campaign spending and finances of Political Parties. The Commission will procure sensitive and non-sensitive materials and deploy them as at and when due. The Commission must identity, harvest and recruit ad-hoc staff and various categories of collation and returning officers. The Commission must identify, prepare and equip Registration Area Centers, Collation Centers and other Centers for various and variegated activities. The Commission will hire vehicles, boats, and motorcycles and engage human carriers for the movement of personnel, materials and reverse logistics. The Commission must train and assist in the deployment of security personnel on election duty. The Commission must also defend pre and post election litigations and petitions.

2022 is loaded with activities and all Heads of Departments and Public Affairs Officers must be abreast of these activities. Elections take place at the base level and it is important to build the capacity of our communication experts to undertake the arduous challenges that comes with election management and organization.

Understanding Creative and Innovative Approaches in Election Management

The Commission has reduced pernicious human interference in the electoral process and deepened democracy through greater use of technology. The Commission introduced the Candidates Nomination Portal through which Political Parties upload the List and Personal Particulars of their Nominated Candidates. The Commission introduced and deployed a Portal for the Accreditation of Observers and the Media. The Commission deployed a Portal for the accreditation of Polling Agents (Party Agents). The Commission developed and deployed the INEC Voter Enrolment Device currently being used for the enrolment of qualified applications desirous of registering as voters. Coterminous to this, the Commission deployed a pre-registration portal for eligible Nigerians to start their voter registration exercise before proceeding for biometric capture. The Commission retired the Smart Card Reader and introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for purposes of Voter Accreditation. The Commission introduced and deployed the (Irev) through which it uploads Polling Unit Results to a Central Portal for public viewing in real time.

Creative and Innovative Approaches to Communication

As communicators, you must devise and deploy creative and innovative approaches of communicating issues and challenges in the electoral process. You must be dynamic and imaginative against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic that has completely altered lifestyles and ways of doing things. More Nigerians now patronize the social media. We must find the right balance between the traditional and new media.

A Changing Demography

We must wean ourselves of dogmatism and orthodoxy and extricate ourselves from the trap of “we have done it before and there is nothing new to learn or do”. The society has changed. The old ways of communicating issues and developments have given way to new approaches. Door to door means of communication is receding and no longer feasible. The demography of Nigeria has changed and a lot of young Nigerians are using the social media. The implication is that printing posters, handbills and banners are no longer fashionable. As a Commission, we must compete and dominate the social media on issues around the electoral process. We must understand the language of young people and their interests. It is a fight of ideas and a fight for the minds of young Nigerians who constitute the bulk of the voting population. We must use info graphs, short messaging and other creative and innovative approaches to capture their imagination.

Understanding the Electoral Process

We cannot in truth and in fact communicate what we do not know or understand. We must read and have a basic understanding of the constitutive constitutional and legal instrument underpinning the work of the Commission. We must understand the powers and the duties of the Commission as set out in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended); the Electoral Act, 2010(as amended) the Rules, Regulations, Guidelines and Manuals of the Commission made pursuant to the powers conferred on it by the Constitution the and various laws. We must therefore read and be very versatile. A Head of Department or Public Affairs Officer that is ignorant of the basic duties and functions of the Commission is a danger to the electoral process. The Nigerian people expect us to be upfront with information. The Nigerian people expect us to clearly, simply and comprehensively communicate changes and innovations in the electoral process. We can only do this when we understand these processes and procedures and communicate them effectively. If we fail to communicate and communicate simply and effectively, rumour mongers and the rumour mill will take over and define the narrative and present us with a fait accompli. It is better to be upfront with information rather than being reactive or defensive.

Crisis Communication and Management

The year 2022 is the year of preparation for bye-elections, off cycle elections and the 2023 general election. Most of the important events in the electoral calendar will take place this year. Political Parties, Aspirants, Candidates and their Supporters will position to gain advantage. Some of them will attribute their problems and challenges to the Commission. They will praise the Commission when they win and denigrate the Commission when they lose. Some of them will analyze every action of the Commission and our press releases and comments may be tendered in court and become objects of litigation.

Some of the critical stakeholders may misunderstand some of our actions, processes and procedures and read different meaning into well intentioned processes and procedures. It is our responsibility to provide clarity and dispel negative notions and insinuations with potentially damaging impact on the electoral process. Some persons may go to the extent of planting negative stories about the Commission and in the process attempt to drag the Commission into a mud fight. Some people may by acts of commission or omission portray the Commission in bad light. It is our responsibility to remain firm, focused, courageous and engaging. The Commission is a public trust and must be open and transparent. We must on no account personalize the issues. We must respond to those that deserve our response and allow the Nigerian people to take a position on others.

The Commission regulates the organization and activities of political parties but in the heat of campaigns, rallies and nomination processes, attempts will be made to turn the table. We must continually and continuously remind political parties and their candidates and supporters that the Commission is the regulator of political parties and the table must on no account be turned.

Engaging the Media

As Heads of Department and Public Affairs Officers, you must assist your Resident Electoral Commissioners to engage the media. You must also engage the media. Running away from the media will not make them go away. Engage the media within the ambit of your own ability and expertise. You must not be an orator. You must not be charismatic. Your business is communication and you must communicate in knowledge and humility.
Emerging Issues and their

Challenges

When the new electoral legal framework is passed and assented to by the President, we may have additional engagement with our Heads of Departments and Public Affairs Officers and clearly and comprehensively explain the issues in the new Act. There are clear and differential timelines in the Bill. There are new provisions and new innovations that change the dynamics of the electoral process. There may be new ways of determining over voting in the electoral process. The method of accreditation will change using the BVAS. You will be called upon to explain the architecture of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC). With the shift of accreditation technology from Smart Card Reader (SCR) to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) the new technology, the BVAS extracts voter data in four ways:

1. By typing in the Voter Identification Number (VIN)
2. By typing in the last name of the voter
3. By reading the Barcode on the PVC
4. By reading the QR code on the register of voters.

You will be called upon to explain Issues around Campaigns and Rallies. As some of you are aware, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is empowered by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (1999) (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2010(as amended) to regulate the activities of registered Political Parties. The Commission issues Regulations, Guidelines and Manuals to give effect to the intendment of the law and the Constitution. Section 99 of the Electoral Act, 2010(as amended) prescribes and circumscribes the period of campaigning in public by political parties. Based on the existing law, campaigns in public shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that date. However, section 99 of the Act recognizes that Political Parties are not the only operators in the electoral process. Therefore, section 100 of the Act provides that a candidate and his party shall campaign in accordance with such rules and regulations as may be determined by the Commission.

You may be called upon to explain issues relating to finances of political parties, limitation on election expenses; election expenditure by political parties and disclosure of sources of income by political parties.

You may be called upon to explain the concept of validity of party primaries and other related issues. You must therefore be prepared and arm yourself with the requite information.

The Last Line

We must see improved permanence by our Heads of Voter Education and Publicity and our Public Affairs Officers. We want to see better and robust engagement with the media. We want to see well written press statements that represent the clear intentions of the Commission and convey same in simple language. We want to see clear engagement in the social media. Policies of the Commission and innovations must be cascaded to the grassroots using the best and most effective means of communication.

I once again welcome you to this program. On behalf of the Commission; I hereby declare this workshop open.

By Chris Udochukwu

Abuja (Precise Post) – Contrary to insinuations by some quarters that aspirants declaring their interest to vie for the presidency in 2023 were violating the law, INEC says it will not interfere with the constitutional provision that guarantees the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and receive and impart ideas and information without interference.

It, however, cautioned political parties not to engage in any public campaign, saying parties and candidates must play by the rules or they would be made to face the law.

Okoye added, “The constitution is the fundamental law of the land and the present commission will not in any way interfere with and abridge on the right of any Nigerian citizen to freedom of expression.
“Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) is clear and unambiguous.

The period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.

The operative word is campaigning in public by political parties and the candidates they are promoting.

“Political parties and their candidates must therefore campaign in public in accordance with rules and regulations as may be determined by the commission,” Okoye added.

Abuja – The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, met in closed door with a former governor of Abia State and current Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, in the latter’s Aso-Rock, home in Abuja.

Tinubu, according to sources, arrived at the Kalu’s residence at exactly 4:25pm on Saturday.

The two politicians were said to have hugged each other and exchanged cordial pleasantries before engaging in a closed door meeting afterwards.

The source explained that Kalu, before the closed door meeting; expressed gratitude to God for Tinubu’s speedy recovery.

Tinubu, returned to Nigeria on October 8 after spending some months in London, where he had a knee surgery.

The reason for their meeting was not yet made known to journalists but it might not be unconnected with some political and economic developments in the country.

The visit comes amidst talks that both men are being strongly positioned for the 2023 presidency to succeed the incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari

Recall that both men were former two term governors of their respective states from 1999 to 2007.

While Tinubu was a former Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu is the current Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District in the 9th Senate.

Source