THERE IS NO EXTERNAL INFLUENCE ON INEC BY PROFESSOR YAKUBU

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has assured Nigerians that the Commissions independence has not and will not be compromised by any external forces under any circumstance.

He said: “There is no influence on INEC, and there will never be any influence on INEC. The best marker for INEC is the elections that we have conducted and the outcome of those elections”.

The INEC Chairman gave the assurance Yesterday, while responding to questions from members of the INEC Press Corps during the opening ceremony of a two-two day Capacity Development Workshop at Rockview Hotel Royale, Abuja.

“I have never been approached by anybody to do anything in any way other than what is appropriate. I am not under any external pressure, neither are the members of the Commission,” he declared.

ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA ARE GETTING BETTER AND THE VOTES ARE COUNTING - PROFESSOR YAKUBU

Nigerian elections conducted under the watch of the Professor Mahmood Yakubu-led Commission are getting better and the votes are counting.


Addressing Editors of print and broadcast Media at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, last week, the INEC Chairman emphasized that the votes now counted unlike in the past. Argued he: “if you simply compare the outcome of previous elections with the elections we conducted recently, you can very clearly see how the elections are getting better and how the margin is becoming even smaller. Votes are also counting today more than ever before”.

INEC RELEASES SUPPLEMENTARY GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS FOR CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released additional guidelines to the existing 2015 Guidelines and Regulations for the conduct of elections in the country.

Having approved the pilot of the Continuous Accreditation and Voting Procedure at elections, for the time being, the Commission has decided that the following shall constitute a supplement to the existing guidelines and regulations at elections.

The Ekiti Saga: The Road To Tyranny And Anarchy By Senator George Akume

Thursday the 10th of June 2014 will remain a very frightening and disturbing day in the history of democracy in this country since 1999. The nation woke up to the incredible news that the military “had barred all APC Governors from entering and attending the APC Governorship grand rally for their Ekiti State colleague, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi. There was also an alleged threat by soldiers to shoot one of the APC Governors-Rotimi Amaechi in the process. It was like a coup d’état rehearsal by soldiers in a Banana Republic. Whichever way one looks at this saga, it represents a major threat to democracy and dangerous drift towards total anarchy in Nigeria.

It will be recalled that only a week ago, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan led all PDP Governors and other stakeholders to the same Ekiti State for a similar rally for the PDP Candidate, Ayo Fayose. No PDP Governor was stopped or harassed and the incumbent APC Governor provided all the needed security for the rally to hold successfully in the true spirit of democracy and fair play. The PDP rally was successfully held with fanfare.

Egbe Omo Yoruba Calls For Election Integrity In Ekiti, Osun

A North America-based group, Egbe Omo Yoruba in North America (EOYNA) has urged stakeholders in Ekiti and Osun states to ensure free and fair elections in the forthcoming governorship elections in the states.

In a statement signed by its National President, Agbaakin Bolu Omodele, the group urged the people of the two states to reflect on the past experiences of the region and learn from them.

“Egbe Omo Yoruba inNorth America is calling on all stakeholders, governments at all levels, the electorate, security forces, political parties and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to join hands and ensure we have a free and fair election and promote democratic ethos.

Herdsmen Crisis: What Fulani Want From Government (Article) - Ismail Iro

Grazing land and stock-routes top the list of Fulani's demands from government.

All the leading presidential aspirants in the previous elections who were seeking the votes of *Miyetti Allah* Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (M.A.C.B.A.N.) had sent letters to the association assuring the Fulani of enough grazing land and stock-paths if elected. Discussions among government officials, traditional rulers, and Fulani leaders on the welfare of the pastoralists have always centered on requests and pledges for protecting grazing spaces and cattle passages. It has become evident that the political party that ignores the Fulani demand for grazing land would during an election attract a voter revenge.

The Growing pressure from *Ardo'en* (the Fulani community leaders) for the salvation of what is left of the customary grazing land has made some state governments with large population of herders to include in their development plans the reactivation and preservation of grazing reserves. Quick to grasp the desperation of cattle-keepers for land, the administrators have instituted a Grazing Reserve Committee to find a lasting solution to the rapid depletion of grazing land resources in Nigeria.

Egyptian army chief Abdel Fattah el-Sisi resigns to run for the presidency

Egyptian army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met with the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) on Wednesday to tell them he was resigning as defense minister to run for the presidency, the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper reported on its website.

During the meeting Chief of Staff Sidqi Subhi was promoted to the rank of General prior to being named as defense minister,  Al Arabiya News Channel reported, quoting military sources.

Al-Ahram had said that Sisi was expected to announce his decision to step down as defense minister in a statement to be broadcast later.

POLICE TRAIN OVER 16,00 OFFICERS AHEAD OF 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS

The Nigeria Police Boss, IGP Mohammed Abubakar, on Tuesday ordered the release of over 16,000 police officers for promotion and election security course accross Nigeria. The officers, while on course, are expected to undergo an intensive training on election protection duties.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the Inspector General of Police, Abubakar, has endorsed the training for the men and officers of the force as part of a proactive measure by the Nigeria Police to ensure a violent free election in 2015.

Mba said the training courses are designed to equip the men with new skills in standard operational policing practices, human rights protections, principles of democratic policing as well as rules of engagement in election security.