The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has held a meeting with stakeholders in Gombe state to ensure hitch-free conduct of the various elections in the state this year.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Umar Ibrahim, said 336 candidates under the various political party platforms would be contesting the elections in Gombe state.
They comprise of 14 governorship aspirants; 33 senatorial candidates; 62 aspiring to the House of Representatives; and 227 aspiring to the House of Assembly.
According to Mr. Ibrahim, this is based on the final publication of the list of the candidates by the commission on the 26th of September and 4th of October, 2022 for the national and state elections respectively.
He emphasized that the deployment and use of the Bimodal Voter Authentication System (BVAS) during the elections would guarantee credible elections in the state.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Gombe state asked those considering the old form of electoral fraud to rethink because the use of BVAS would expose such vices and their perpetrators.
“There is no doubt the deployment of technology has greatly improved the conduct of elections in the country over the years.
“During the 2023 election the commission will be deploying the BVAS for the accreditation of voters and transmission of election results.
“I wish to assure the good people of Gombe state that the days of identity theft during elections are over, and only voters can determine the winners of elections in this country.
“I urge you to join us in discouraging PVC-selling/buying and vote-selling/buying in the strongest terms, as it stands against democratic norms and principles,” Mr. Ibrahim said.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner said the state had so far received 246, 803 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in 2022 for those newly registered during the Continuous Voters Registration or who requested for transfer, update, or replacemen during the period.
And out of that number, only 97, 230 had collected their PVCs by 9th of January 2023, leaving a balance of 149, 565 PVCs that had not yet been collected.
Mr. Ibrahim, however, appealed to all stakeholders to collaborate in sensitizing and mobilizing the public to collect their PVCs, as its collection would be suspended on Sunday, 22nd of January 2023.
He encouraged chairmen and candidates of political parties to desist from the destruction of party posters and billboards, and clashes between supporters of opposing parties, which had characterized the political campaigns since their commencement.
“We call on you to abide by the law governing political campaigns, as enshrined in Sections 91 to 97 of the Electoral Act 2022,” said Mr. Ibrahim.
The Commissioner of Police, Gombe state, Mr. Oqua Etim, cautioned political parties against hate speeches, malicious propaganda, disruption of campaign rallies, meetings, and destruction of billboards, banners, posters and campaign offices, which have now become the norm.
“Billboards, as far as I know, don’t win elections. They don’t have PVCs.
“Why do you attack billboards? If you talk to your people, work for them and convince them, they will come out, register, have their PVCs and then vote.
“Even on voting day, you cannot intimidate.
“Why do we get stupid? If we fight ourselves and set the state on fire, will there be an election? What would you have achieved then?
“Besides, when a structure is destroyed, the money meant for the construction of new ones would then be deployed to rehabilitate the destroyed one,” Mr. Etim lamented.
He urged officials of the political parties in Gombe state to enlighten their supporters to conduct themselves in a civilized manner.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) updated the stakeholders on the various levels of preparations.
Speaking particularly on electoral offences, the Head of Legal Services, Mr. Nenfort Kundum, asked the stakeholders to take note of the various offences and warn their members and supporters, saying ignorance of the law is not an excuse.
“All these are covered in the Act. In fact, part 7 of the Electoral Act talks completely about electoral offences.
“It has about 17 sections. Part 7 of the Electoral Act covers electoral offences.
“That’s for sections 114 to 129. Those sections cover impersonation and voting when you are not qualified.
“Dereliction of duty by INEC officials – jobs they are supposed to do, but have failed to do, is an offence.
“Bribery and corruption, particularly conspiracy; what you call vote-buying; accepting inducement and giving inducement by political parties.
“You that are giving, and you that are accepting are both liable,” Mr. Kundum said.
Polling Units
Mr. Aminu Isa, from the Electoral Operations department, covered the decongestion of polling units:
From 770 polling units there were now 2,988 polling units across Gombe state for easy conduct of elections and for proximity to voters.
He also said the preliminary registration of voters by 30th July 2022 stood at 1,575,724 in Gombe state, out of which 181,331 are new voters, added to the existing 1,394,393 in 2019.
“This is just a preliminary figure for the register of voters in Gombe state.
“This number may reduce as a result of the display of the Preliminary Register of Voters, which was carried out in November 2022.
“The display of the register was in line with Section 19 of the Electoral Act, 2022, where the commission displays the Preliminary Register of Voters for claims and objections in the 114 registration areas,” Mr. Isa said.
Edited by Amaka E. Nliam
