Politics

Many Shut Out As INEC Ends Voters’ Registration

Published

4 years ago

August 1, 2022

Nigerians waiting at one of the INEC centres

Despite spirited efforts, many Nigerians were unable to register for Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) as the exercise ended yesterday.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had ruled out the possibility of extending the exercise, saying it needs time to scrutinise the voters’ register to clean up possible incidents of double registration, print permanent voters’ cards (PVC), among others.

Some state governments had declared work-free days to enable residents to complete their voter registration exercise before the July 31 deadline.

However, our correspondents, who visited different registration areas yesterday, reported that many centres were crowded with many waiting in queue as of 6:00pm.

In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), one of our correspondents, who monitored the exercise in Bwari, Dutse and some parts of Kubwa as well as Garki Area 10 in the city centre, reported that several people were unable to register as of 4pm yesterday.

Mr Martins Abah, a teacher in one of the secondary schools in Bwari, said if the electoral body stood by its July 31 deadline, many willing residents would not be able to exercise their civic right.

He appealed for the extension of the exercise.

Another resident in Kubwa, Mohammed Isah, said he came to the registration centre around 10am thinking many people might have gone to church but to his surprise, there were close to 300 people in queue when he arrived.

“I have been here since then, this is 2:17pm now and not more than 20 people have been attended to,” he said.

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But a man, who said he was attended to at Area 10 in Garki, blamed Nigerians for their rush hours attitude, adding that even if they extend the exercise, many will still complain.

Traditional rulers in the FCT had, at the weekend, pleaded for the extension of the exercise, claiming that many rural dwellers in the territory had not been captured.

Kaduna

Usman Suleiman, a resident of Kinkinau, Kaduna lamented that he couldn’t find a registration centre in the whole of Sabon Gari ward, which made him to give up.

Zayyana Surajo, a fairly-used cloth dealer at Sabon Garin Tudun Wada in Kaduna South local government area, said he was not happy that the exercise ended without him getting registered.

Muhammad Shehu Bakura, another resident, said: “I went to two centres at LEA Tudun Wada and Kaduna Polytechnic on Friday but nobody was there to attend to us.”

Khadija Shehu Kakura said the crowd at some of the centres visited discouraged her from registering.

Kano

In Kano, many prospective registrants were still in the queue as of the time our reporter visited one of the registration centres at Tarauni Local Government Area of the state.

Many of those spoken to, however, expressed doubt that they would be able to register before the close of the registration.

At the Tarauni Local Government INEC office, Daily Trust observed that hundreds of people were still in the queue in anticipation to get registered.

It was the same situation at other registration centres in Kano metropolitan areas.

Prospective registrants said based on the pace of the exercise, it was practically impossible to register more than 10% of those still in the queue before sunset.

Speaking shortly after his registration, Abdulrahman Bala Kawu, said he was able to register after six hours of waiting in the queue.

Amina Ibrahim, who was still waiting to register, said she had spent three days in a row without success.

A group of young women, who spoke to our reporter, complained that the process they went through was tedious.

“This is the fifth day we have been here, spending the whole day. We have gone to different registration centres. In some places, security men even beat us and shot teargas at us. We spent N500 everyday each for transport to come here. Honestly, we have really suffered and we still may end up not getting registered,” one of them said.

Lagos

Visit to some centres in Lagos revealed that party chieftains hijacked the process as they colluded with some INEC staff to manipulate the process.

At Oluwole centre in Ogba, Ikeja local government area, it was gathered that party chieftains gave out numbers to people.

A prospective registrant, Oreoluwa Phillip, who visited the centre on Friday, said she left in annoyance owing to the manipulation.

“I got there as early as 6:32am but I was given number 107 while some people who just arrived got number 5. We learnt that party members have taken the number 1-100, so we were left with numbers from 101. Sadly, there is only one computer and the process was slow,” she said.

Daily Trust gathered that some of the approved centres in Lagos were not open to the public yesterday.

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When our correspondent visited one of the centres on Agu-Are street, Ijanikin, INEC staff were not on ground.

Hundreds of people, who stormed the place with the hope to beat the deadline, were disappointed and went back home disappointed.

One of the residents, who identified himself as Emeka said: “No INEC staff was on ground to attend to people. Ago-Are is among centres approved by INEC for PVC registration.”

Imo

In Owerri Municipal Council, many prospective registrants forgo their church services as they thronged registration centres as early as 5am.

Ngozi Nweke, a resident, said she had been visiting the centre since last Monday, but had not been able to get registered.

In Nwangele local government area, a staff of INEC, who spoke anonymously, blamed the slow pace of the exercise on network failure.

He said, “Another problem is that most people who are here don’t have any business being here. They would’ve done theirs online, especially those who want to change registration points or areas.”

Residents of Port Harcourt in Rivers State also expressed concern over their inability to register for PVC.

A Port Harcourt resident, Chuks Nwama, told our reporter that all efforts to obtain the voters’ card were unsuccessful.

“Since last week, I have been making efforts to obtain the card but it was very difficult. On Monday and Tuesday, I left my house about 5.00am to the INEC office located at Aba Road. I was there from 5.am to 5.00pm, I couldn’t get registered,” he said.

Another resident, Pastor Emmanuel Chukwu, said he could not stand the pressure of standing in a long queue to obtain the card.

A public affairs analyst, Toyin Ajayi, reminded Nigerians that INEC has to work with its scheduled time table for proper planning, adding that frequent extension of such exercise might interrupt the arrangement.

He advised INEC to assess their schedule time table and take appropriate decisions regarding the requested extension by some Nigerians in the overall interest of the country.

Related Topics:Featured INEC voters’ registration

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Atiku Accuses Obasanjo of Distorting History, Defends Role in Third-Term Battle

Published

21 hours ago

August 1, 2026

Trends Admin

Atiku Accuses Obasanjo of Distorting History, Defends Role in Third-Term Battle

ABUJA – Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of attempting to rewrite history, insisting that he has no regrets for opposing the controversial third-term agenda during the Obasanjo administration.

In a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said Obasanjo’s recent public comments reflected “personal resentment” rather than historical facts.

According to the former vice president, his opposition to the third-term agenda was driven by his commitment to Nigeria’s Constitution and democratic principles.

“I am proud that I stood against the third-term agenda. I am proud that I stood by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have no apology whatsoever for frustrating every attempt to subvert our democracy for personal ambition,” Atiku said.

He maintained that no individual was greater than Nigeria, stressing that democracy ultimately triumphed over what he described as an unconstitutional bid to extend presidential tenure.

Atiku also claimed that the hostility between him and Obasanjo stemmed from his refusal to support the third-term project, saying he would wear any resentment arising from that decision “as a badge of honour.”

The former vice president further argued that history would remember the constitutional struggle as a victory for democracy rather than a personal feud between two political figures.

Atiku also referenced recent remarks by Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who reportedly praised the economic management team under the Obasanjo administration, saying the commendation underscored the contributions made during his tenure as vice president.

He alleged that despite such recognition, Obasanjo remained determined to downplay his role in what he described as one of Nigeria’s most successful periods of economic management.

The ADC presidential candidate also recalled supporting Obasanjo during his imprisonment under the late military regime, claiming he assisted his family, worked for his release, and later helped mobilise political structures that contributed to Obasanjo’s emergence as president in 1999.

While saying he did not regret those efforts, Atiku warned against what he described as attempts to replace gratitude with historical revisionism.

He expressed disappointment that, at a time when Nigeria faces economic hardship, insecurity and unemployment, a former president was focusing on old political disagreements instead of offering solutions to national challenges.

“The 2027 election should be about rebuilding Nigeria, restoring security, reviving the economy and giving hope to the next generation—not reopening old political wounds,” he said.

Atiku added that although he had maintained silence over the years out of respect for Obasanjo and the office he once occupied, he would no longer allow what he called repeated distortions of history to go unanswered.

He concluded by saying his focus remained on Nigeria’s future, declaring that “history is stubborn” and that both history and the Nigerian people would ultimately deliver their verdict.

Atiku Accuses Obasanjo of Distorting History, Defends Role in Third-Term Battle

Politics

INEC publishes Tinubu, Shettima’s credentials for public scrutiny ahead of 2027 election

Published

22 hours ago

August 1, 2026

Trends Admin

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima

INEC publishes Tinubu, Shettima’s credentials for public scrutiny ahead of 2027 election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the public display of the personal particulars, academic credentials and nomination documents submitted by candidates participating in the 2027 general election, including President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The exercise is part of the statutory nomination process and provides members of the public with an opportunity to inspect the information and supporting documents submitted by candidates ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

INEC publishes Tinubu Shettima s credentials for public scrutiny ahead of 2027 polls INEC had fixed August 1 for the publication of the personal particulars of presidential and National Assembly candidates after political parties completed the submission of their nomination documents through the commission’s designated portal. (Punch Newspapers)

Documents contained in President Tinubu’s Form EC9 show that he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University in the United States.

His academic transcript indicates that the degree was awarded “with honours” on June 22, 1979.

The documents also include a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate showing that Tinubu completed his mandatory national service in Oyo State between December 1982 and November 1983.

According to the employment history provided in the nomination form, Tinubu worked at Mobil Nigeria Limited from 1983 to 1992 before leaving for what was described as “advancement.”

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The form also records his service as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 and indicates that he has served under the Federal Government since 2023.

While the form lists his university qualification, the sections relating to his primary and secondary school attendance contain the entry “0000,” with no specific years stated.

The documents list Tinubu’s date of birth as March 29, 1952, and describe his occupation as “politician.”

The nomination documents submitted by Vice President Kashim Shettima provide details of his educational background from the primary school level.

His Certificate of Primary Education, issued by the Ministry of Education of the former North-Eastern State, indicates that he attended Lamisula I Primary School between 1972 and 1978.

The certificate states that Shettima graduated second in a class of 22 pupils, with English, History and Religious Knowledge listed among his strongest subjects.

His West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certificate from Government Secondary School, Potiskum, dated June 1983, records six credits and passes, including distinctions in Religious Knowledge and Economics.

Shettima later obtained a Second Class Upper Division degree in Agriculture from the University of Maiduguri in August 1989.

He subsequently earned a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan.

His NYSC discharge certificate shows that he completed the national service programme between October 1989 and October 1990.

INEC said the publication of candidates’ personal particulars is intended to promote transparency and enable public scrutiny of the information submitted by political parties on behalf of their candidates.

The commission explained that Form EC9 contains candidates’ personal information, educational qualifications, supporting credentials and sworn declarations.

The documents have been displayed at designated INEC offices across the country, including state and local government offices linked to the relevant constituencies.

Members of the public may inspect the documents and, where necessary, seek certified true copies of candidates’ nomination forms and supporting records through the procedures provided by law.

The electoral framework also provides legal channels for eligible persons to challenge alleged false declarations, inaccurate information or forged credentials before a court of competent jurisdiction.

The public display does not amount to an independent verification or endorsement by INEC of every detail contained in the submitted documents. Rather, it forms part of the electoral nomination process and allows the public to review candidates’ particulars and pursue any concerns through established legal procedures.

The publication comes as political parties and candidates prepare for the 2027 general election, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027. (INEC Nigeria)

The public display of the candidates’ records marks another major stage in the electoral process as political parties intensify preparations for the nationwide polls.

INEC publishes Tinubu, Shettima’s credentials for public scrutiny ahead of 2027 election

Politics

Naming Atiku as My Running Mate in 1999 My Biggest Political Error – Obasanjo

Published

1 day ago

August 1, 2026

Trends Admin

Atiku Abubakar and Olusegun Obasanjo

Naming Atiku as My Running Mate in 1999 My Biggest Political Error – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says picking Atiku Abubakar as his vice-presidential candidate remains the greatest mistake of his political career, though he harbours no bitterness over their fractured relationship.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described his decision to select former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as his running mate in the 1999 presidential election as the greatest mistake of his political career. Obasanjo made the remark on Friday in Lagos during a fireside conversation with veteran entertainer and activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy. The event was held to unveil Charly Boy’s foundation and his memoir, 999: A Memoir in Tribute to Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa. The public presentation took place at the Alliance Française de Lagos/Mike Adenuga Centre on Osborne Road, Ikoyi. Reflecting on his years in office, the former president said that while every leader makes mistakes, his choice of vice president remained the one decision he regretted most. “The man I picked as my running mate, my number two. If I had known him as I came to know him later, I would not have picked him,” Obasanjo said. When Charly Boy sought clarification on whether he was referring to Atiku, Obasanjo replied, “My vice president. I don’t know what name you want to give him, but my vice president, I mean that.”

Despite his scathing assessment, Obasanjo insisted he harbours no personal bitterness toward his former deputy. “There is no bitterness because he did things he believed he should do, and God did the things God had to do, which enabled me to achieve what I was able to achieve,” he added. Obasanjo expressed gratitude that Atiku’s actions did not derail his administration or harm Nigeria. “What I know about him later makes me… thank God because God did not allow his actions and reactions to overwhelm me, or to divert my own focus from Nigeria, or to harm Nigeria even,” he said.

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The former president also addressed recurring discussions about his ancestry, insisting that his family traces its roots to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. “I still know our family house there,” he said.

The event drew several distinguished guests, including former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi; businessman Leo Stan Ekeh, who announced donations of N20 million each on behalf of Obasanjo and Chief Emeka Anyaoku; book reviewer Dr. Austin Tam-George; and veteran broadcaster Bisi Olatilo, among other notable personalities.

Obasanjo and Atiku contested the 1999 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and jointly governed Nigeria from 1999 until 2007. Their relationship, however, deteriorated during their second term in office following a series of political disagreements. In his memoir, My Watch, published in 2014, Obasanjo accused Atiku of corruption, disloyalty, and placing personal ambition above national interest. Atiku dismissed the allegations, accusing Obasanjo of attempting to rewrite history. The verbal exchanges intensified recently after Obasanjo alleged that Atiku gave former Speaker Ghali Umar Na’Abba N5 million to begin impeachment proceedings against him during his first term. Atiku denied the allegation and accused the ex-president of fabricating claims.