INEC Gives Parties Deadline To Submit Polling Agents’ List

Related stories

Tinubu: Presidency Replies Peter Obi, Says He Is Blind To Realities

By Abiola Olawale The Presidency has accused Peter Obi, the...

How Boko Haram Attacked Ex-COAS Buratai’s Convoy, Escapes Death In Borno — Reveals Ndume

By Kolawole Ojebisi The lawmaker representing Borno South in the...

Gambaryan Quits Binance After Brush With Nigerian Government

By Kolawole Ojebisi Months after regaining his freedom from the...

Drama as Tinubu’s Aide, Aliyu Audu Resigns

By Abiola Olawale Aliyu Audu, Senior Special Assistant to President...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed all political parties participating in the forthcoming general elections to complete the processes for the submission of the names of their polling agents by Monday. Feb. 11.

The commission gave the directive in a statement issued by Mr Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner, and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, on Saturday in Abuja.

Okoye explained that INEC in its Timetable and Schedule of Activities for 2019 General Elections had fixed Feb. 1, as the last date for the submission of the name, two passport photographs of each polling agent and sample signature for the Presidential and National Assembly Elections scheduled for Feb. 16.

Okoye said that the commission at its meeting with all Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja on Friday reviewed its state of readiness for the general elections, the national and state elections, scheduled for Feb. 16 and March 2.

Okoye said that at the end of the meeting, the commission expressed concern that a week after the deadline for the submission of the list of poll agents for Presidential and National Assembly elections only few parties had completed the submission of the names of polling agents.

He added that in less than three weeks to the deadline for the submission of the list of candidates for the Governorship and State Assembly elections, only few political parties had complied with the extant provisions of the law.

“Most of the lists submitted are not accompanied by the photographs and specimen signatures of the poll/party agents as required by law.

“The Commission has decided as follows: All political parties that submitted incomplete applications without the specimen signatures and photographs of the poll/party agents are strongly requested to regularize this on or before close of work on Monday the Feb. 11.

“All political parties are reminded that Feb. 16, is the last day for the submission of the names, photographs and specimen signatures of poll/party agents for the Governorship, State Assembly and Area Council elections.

“Any list of poll/party agents that is not accompanied by specimen signatures and photographs of poll/party agents will be rejected.

“It is unlawful for political parties to deploy poll/party agents whose names have not been forwarded to the Commission and duly accredited in accordance with the law.

“The security agents have been so informed and no recognition, right or privilege will be accorded to anyone not accredited by the Commission,” he said.

He said that at the end of the meeting, the Commission decided to draw the attention of the registered political parties and members of the public to the provisions of the law regarding the submission of names of polling/party agents by political parties.

“Section 45 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides that:
Each political party may, by notice in writing addressed to the Electoral Officer of the Local Government Area or Area Council, appoint a polling agent for each polling unit and collation centre in the Local Government Area or Area Council for which it has a candidate and the notice, which sets out the name and address of the polling agent shall be accompanied by two passport photographs of each polling agent and sample signature of the polling agent and be given to the Electoral Officer at least 14 days before the date fixed for the election.

“Provided that no person presently serving as Chairman or member of a Local Government or Area Council, Commissioner of a State, Deputy Governor, or Governor of a State, Minister or any other person holding political office under any tier of Government and who has not resigned his appointment at least three months before the election shall serve as a polling agent of any political party, either at the polling unit or at any centre designated for collation of results of election,” he said.

'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide's journalism works intersect business, environment, politics and developmental issues. Among a number of local and international publications, his work has appeared in the New York Times. He's a winner of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Award. Currently, the Online Editor at The New Diplomat, Akintomide has produced reports that uniquely spoke to Nigeria's experience on Climate Change issues. When Akintomide is not writing, volunteering or working on a media project, you can find him seeing beautiful sites like the sandy beaches that bedecked the Lagos coastline.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

[tds_leads input_placeholder="Your email address" btn_horiz_align="content-horiz-center" pp_msg="SSd2ZSUyMHJlYWQlMjBhbmQlMjBhY2NlcHQlMjB0aGUlMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMiUyMyUyMiUzRVByaXZhY3klMjBQb2xpY3klM0MlMkZhJTNFLg==" pp_checkbox="yes" tdc_css="eyJhbGwiOnsibWFyZ2luLXRvcCI6IjMwIiwibWFyZ2luLWJvdHRvbSI6IjQwIiwiZGlzcGxheSI6IiJ9LCJwb3J0cmFpdCI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMTUiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMjUiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sInBvcnRyYWl0X21heF93aWR0aCI6MTAxOCwicG9ydHJhaXRfbWluX3dpZHRoIjo3NjgsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMjAiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMzAiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sImxhbmRzY2FwZV9tYXhfd2lkdGgiOjExNDAsImxhbmRzY2FwZV9taW5fd2lkdGgiOjEwMTksInBob25lIjp7Im1hcmdpbi10b3AiOiIyMCIsImRpc3BsYXkiOiIifSwicGhvbmVfbWF4X3dpZHRoIjo3Njd9" display="column" gap="eyJhbGwiOiIyMCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTAiLCJsYW5kc2NhcGUiOiIxNSJ9" f_msg_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_input_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_btn_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_family="downtown-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_weight="700" f_btn_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_transform="uppercase" btn_text="Unlock All" btn_bg="#000000" btn_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxOCIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjE0IiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxNCJ9" input_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjEyIiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxMCJ9" pp_check_color_a="#000000" f_pp_font_weight="600" pp_check_square="#000000" msg_composer="" pp_check_color="rgba(0,0,0,0.56)" msg_succ_radius="0" msg_err_radius="0" input_border="1" f_unsub_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_msg_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_weight="500" f_msg_font_weight="500" f_unsub_font_weight="500"]

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
How Boko Haram Attacked Ex-COAS Buratai's Convoy, Escapes Death In Borno --- Reveals NdumeGambaryan Quits Binance After Brush With Nigerian GovernmentDrama as Tinubu’s Aide, Aliyu Audu ResignsNigerians Have Behaved Badly For 'A Very Long Time', LP's Alex Otti Backs Tinubu's Fuel Subsidy RemovalOne Third Of Dangote Refinery Crude From US as Scarce Local Supplies Stall Refinery's Capacity, Says BloombergTinubu Running Govt. of 'Propaganda And Lies', Says Peter Obi2027: Ijaw Group Threatens To Prevent Election In Warri If...Sanwo-olu Breaks Silence On Alleged Rift With Tinubu, Calls President 'Father And Leader'Tinubu Tells Sanwo-Olu At Lagos Peace Meeting: "All is Forgiven"Pope Leo XIV Urges Faithful to Open Borders, Break Down Barriers, Embrace LoveJune 12: Tinubu To Address Senate, Reps Joint Session On Democracy DayNUT Speaks On Why FG's Planned Computer-based Examinations Won't Curb MalpracticesTension in Colombia as Presidential Hopeful Miguel Uribe Shot 3 Times at Campaign Rally in Critical StateGowon Reflects on Nigerian Civil War, Says It Was a Painful Duty, Not a ChoiceNigeria Celebrates Democracy as FG Declares June 12 Public Holiday
X whatsapp