News
INEC boss denies receiving cash support, says 70 percent of observer groups fail to submit polls report 4 months after – INEC
Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has said only 30 percent local and International observer groups have yet to turn in their 2023 general election reports.
Also, Yakubu debunked the reports that INEC collected cash support from international development partners for the conduct of the 2023 general election.
On 21st February, before the 2023 general election, Yakubu addressed the group, saying as a consequence, observers submit reports to electoral commissions highlighting strengths and weaknesses of processes.
The reports and recommendations of observers and the knowledge from the study tours help electoral commissions to progressively improve processes.
Yakubu who was speaking during a meeting with Civil Society Organisations, CSOs on the review of the 2023 general election on Monday in Abuja, said so far, only 67 observer groups (62 domestic and five foreign) have so far submitted their observation reports which represents just about 30% of accredited groups for the election.
Yakubu said, “We urge all accredited observer groups that are yet to submit their reports to do so in earnest.
“For the 2023 General Election, the Commission received 538 requests (504 domestic and 34 foreign) for accreditation as observers. After a thorough evaluation of the requests, only 228 groups (190 domestic and 38 foreign) met the requirements for accreditation.
“However, it is necessary to seize this opportunity to correct the impression in some sections of the public that the Commission received huge sums of money from development partners for the election.
On the contrary, and for the avoidance of doubt, the Commission did not receive any direct funding or cash support from international development partners.
Rather, their support was totally indirect through civil society organisations and implementing partners working on elections. Indeed, it has been a longstanding policy of the present Commission not to receive direct funding and cash transfers from sources other than the Federal Government of Nigeria.
We hope that we shall continue to have this type of productive partnership with civil society and development partners in the future.
According to him “While voter accreditation using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was very successful, the uploading of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), especially for the presidential election, encountered a glitch as explained in our statement released by the Commission on 26th February 2023.
“The Commission is aware that this matter is currently the subject of litigation and would reserve its comments for now. Nevertheless, the performance of the technology deployed for the election is part of the ongoing review of the 2023 General Election.”
In her response on behalf of the civil society organisations, Executive Director,Centre for Transparency Advocacy Faith Nwadishi, said, ” it has always been the tradition of the commission to engage civil society groups. We acknowledge the fact that technology played a great role in 2023 general election and we also acknowledged that some of the lapses experienced in the 2023 election were as a result of technology.
“And also to note that out of 228 accredited civil society groups only 67 turn in their reports. This is not very good, I will encourage my colleagues to put in the same efforts they put in for application to ensure they do the same to submit their reports. Because over the years I have noticed that the recommendations we put in our reports are taken on by INEC.
“This has brought some of the reforms we have seen in our electoral process. So, 30 percent of 228 accredited observer groups that have submitted their reports several months after the election is not a good outing for us.”
The Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters(Senate), Sen. Basheer Lado, CON, has felicitated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on his 73rd Birthday Anniversary.
Lado in a congratulatory message on Friday in Abuja, described the President as a selfless leader and one who had sacrificed so much for the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.
He said, “today, we celebrate not just the birth of a man, but the rise of a legacy.
“We celebrate not just the years in your life, but the life in your years.
“We celebrate not just the path you’ve walked, but the footprints you’ve left behind.”
The Special Adviser said the President’s life was a testament to the power of courage, resilience, and faith in the promise of the Nigerian nation.
He commended the ‘President’s determination as well as his relentless effort in ensuring adequate security, economic growth and political stability in the country.
According to Him, President Tinubu’s doggedness and passion for good governance has set Nigeria on a high pedestal in the comity of nations.
“You dreamed when others doubted, you sacrificed when others conformed, and you led when others retreated.
“On this special day, I proudly join millions across Nigeria and the world to salute your strength and celebrate your service,”he said.
Lado prayed for divine wisdom as the President continued to steer the ship of the nation toward renewed hope and greatness.
He further prayed that the glory of the President’s latter years would surpass his achievements in the past.
The Nigerian Council of Legal Education, the academic institute training lawyers before mobilizing for Call to the Bar said, the 2024 Bar Part results would be release any time soon.
The assurance came amid tension by the students who wrote the examination in November and are awaiting release of the results to determine if they have cleared or have to resit papers.
In a memo released and signed by the School management on Friday 28th March, 2025, the attention of candidates and the public was drawn to the fact that the Council has been working on the results and has progressed into a phase where the results will be released soon.
Part of the memo sighted by CAPITAL POST in Abuja said: Candidates who wrote the November 2024 Bar Final Examinations and the general public are hereby notified that the conventional processes leading to the publication of the results after approval by the Council of Legal Education are almost concluded.
“Candidates and the general public are assured that the results will be released shortly.
“The date for the Call to the Bar will be announced as soon as it is approved by the honourable Body of Benchers”, it concluded.
The Northern Senators Forum has expressed its sadness over the lynching of travelers in Uromi, Edo State, saying that they were taken aback over the gruesome killing of innocent Nigerians because of the zone where the victims came from.
The Forum was reacting to the attack that led to death of individuals on 27th March, 2025 while travelling to the Northern part of the country after they were tragically stereotyped as Fulani kidnappers and brutally murdered in a despicable manner.
The Forum in a statement issued by its Chairman, Abdulaziz Yar’adua strongly condemn the killing and described it as a heinous act which must be investigated with the culprits brought to book.
It read: “We strongly condemn this heinous act, which is a clear violation of the fundamental human rights of the victims. We urge the Edo State Government to take immediate action to identify and prosecute the perpetrators of this gruesome murder.
“We commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for directing the police and other security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into this incident, with a view to arresting the culprits.
“This swift action demonstrates the government’s commitment to upholding justice and protecting the rights of all citizens.
“As stated in Section 41 of the Nigerian Constitution, every citizen has the right to freedom of movement and residence throughout the country. No citizen can be expelled from or refused entry into Nigeria. We must uphold these fundamental principles and ensure that all citizens are treated with dignity and respect.
“We call on the Edo State Government, the security agencies, and all stakeholders to work together to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. We must promote a culture of tolerance, understanding, and peaceful coexistence among all Nigerians.”
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