INEC plans to check vote-buying, lauds ECES on credible polls

Voters

• 2019 elections may be bloody, cleric warns Buhari
• Abe denounces violence in Rivers politics

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that polling booths will henceforth be positioned in a way to make it difficult for people to see how voters cast their votes during elections.The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in charge of Anambra State, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka, said the measure was to make it impossible for anyone to know who a voter voted for.

Orji, who described vote-buying as another big threat to democracy that needed everyone to join hands with INEC to eradicate, said: “INEC cannot check the problem of vote-buying alone. It is a crime that security agents, members of the public who collect the money and politicians who buy the votes must come together to tackle.”The INEC chief also called on eligible persons who are yet to register in the on-going continuous voter’s registration in Anambra to do so before the August 17, 2018 deadline.

Meanwhile, Special Adviser to Chairman of INEC, Prof. Muhammad Kuna, has lauded the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) for its continuous support in election affairs in Nigeria to enable her achieve credible, transparent, free and fair gubernatorial and presidential elections next year.Kuna, who spoke yesterday in Ede, Osun State, during a three-day workshop organised by ECES in conjunction with INEC for electoral officers, heads of departments and assistant electoral officers ahead of the September 22 governorship election in the state, urged the stakeholders to be pro-active to achieve laudable objectives during the election.

He said the Centre had demonstrated keen interest and in the forefront of providing the necessary facilities, training, materials and books for the success of previous elections in the country.

In another development, an Ekiti-based renowned cleric, Prophet Olu Alo, has said that the greatest challenge confronting the nation ahead of 2019 is insecurity.He, therefore, warned President Muhammadu Buhari that next year’s general elections might involve killings if he fails to accord the nation’s security priority attention.

Alo, who spoke during the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) yearly spiritual programme at Erio-Ekiti Mountain yesterday, urged the President to tackle killings by herdsmen in particular.The cleric, who lamented that dastardly acts are now common among politicians, said: “Some politicians are desperate and blood-sucking leaders.”

Besides, an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Abe, has denounced a resort to gun violence ahead of the party’s primaries.Abe, who tasked the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to launch an investigation into the attack on a factional APC secretariat that was vandalised by suspected party thugs at the weekend, said last Saturday’s vandalisation of the party’s new secretariat by hoodlums and the whole idea of bringing guns into politics were to intimidate people and create fear in the minds of political rivals.

However, the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside, has dismissed insinuation that the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, authorised the attack on the secretariat. Peterside said while it was not right for some aggrieved members to open a parallel office, it was even more heinous for anyone to attack the secretariat. According to him, Amaechi will never support anyone to take laws into their hands.

Source:
https://guardian.ng/news/inec-plans-to-check-vote-buying-lauds-eces-on-credible-polls/

NYSC: What Ugwuanyi told corp members

Governor of Enugu Dtate, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has advised members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that would participate in the conduct of the 2019 general elections to be guided by national interest.

Ugwuanyi gave the advice on Monday in Enugu during the closing ceremony of 2018 Batch ‘B’ orientation course for corps members deployed to the state.

The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Josef Udedi, said that the call became necessary following the increasing and critical roles of corps members in the electoral process.

“The 2019 general election is fast approaching and corps members, as usual, will play vital roles in making the exercise successful as electoral umpires.

“I urge you not to be partisan but to acquit yourselves creditably in order to contribute positively to the smooth electoral system in the nation.

“The actions of the corps members should be anchored on the objectives of the scheme among which he said was to promote unity among the diverse nationalities in the country.

“I, therefore, charge you to pursue the realisation of this goal in practical terms by regarding your host communities as your homes by joining to uplift them.

“Your primary assignment will certainly be challenging as you will be posted to four key sectors of the state economy where your services will be mostly needed.
I have no doubt that the training you received had prepared you adequately.

“It is my belief that your initial apprehension and prejudices have given way for better understanding of the diverse cultures and nationalities that make up this country,” he said.

He, however, cautioned them against unnecessary journeys, adding that many lives had been lost in the process.

“You should, therefore, avoid embarking on frequent travels except when absolutely necessary.“

‘No Chance’ Willian Would Have Stayed At Chelsea Under Conte

Chelsea’s Brazilian midfielder Willian warms up before the English Premier League football match between Huddersfield Town and Chelsea at the John Smith’s stadium in Huddersfield, northern England on August 11, 2018. Oli SCARFF / AFP
Chelsea winger Willian has admitted there is “no chance” he would have remained at the club had former manager Antonio Conte not been replaced by Maurizio Sarri last month.

Conte was dismissed just four weeks before the start of the season despite winning the Premier League in his debut campaign and the FA Cup last season.

However, the Italian paid for fallouts with a number of senior players and failing to qualify for the Champions League when he was finally dismissed after months of speculation over his future.

Willian was also linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge with Chelsea rejecting a bid from Barcelona over the summer.

But he looks set to stay in London with the transfer deadline for Premier League clubs now having passed, meaning the Blues are unlikely to entertain any further bids from foreign clubs.

“No chance. No,” the Brazilian told ESPN when asked if he would still be at the club had Conte remained in charge after Saturday’s 3-0 win over Huddersfield on Sarri’s Premier League debut.

“I’m here because I want to play for Chelsea. I will only leave if Chelsea want me to go.”

Sarri has warned it will take time to master the brand of free-flowing attacking football he implemented at Napoli.

But his desire to play on the front foot has already endeared him to Willian after two seasons under Conte’s rigorous tactical approach that prioritised making Chelsea hard to beat.

That approach was rarely successful against Arsenal, who Chelsea host at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Conte won just one of eight meetings against their London rivals, but Willian expects a different outcome thanks to Sarri’s approach.

“We have a great game to play against Arsenal and we want to win again,” he added.

“I think we have a good chance to turn the results around against them because now we have a different way to play football.

“The manager tells us to play, to enjoy ourselves on the pitch, with responsibility. Now we have a different style, that’s why we can create problems for Arsenal.”