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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the submissions of polling and collation agents from political parties, specifically the Labour Party (LP) and All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the forthcoming Edo State governorship election.

The rejection was due to widespread failure to meet the required digital submission guidelines.

This development was confirmed by INEC Chair­man, Prof. Mahmood Yaku­bu, during a meeting with political parties in Abuja on Thursday.

Prof. Yakubu reiterated the commission’s commit­ment to digitalising the electoral process, stating that the manual method of agent nominations is “gone for good.” He emphasised that political parties must adapt to the digital proce­dure, which has now be­come the standard for sub­missions.

Despite prior training sessions and the availability of a help desk, political par­ties reportedly failed to meet the submission criteria, particularly regarding the quality of images uploaded for Polling Unit, Ward, and Local Government agents. The APC, LP and ADP each have about 3000+ agents disqualified while the PDP had the lowest with only 141 agents disqualified.

Prof. Yakubu highlighted that while observer groups and media organisations have successfully complied with the digital require­ments, political parties must do the same to ensure smooth operations on elec­tion day.

He also stressed that the Commission would only produce accreditation tags for agents whose details meet INEC’s guidelines.

In preparation for the election, INEC plans to con­duct a mock accreditation exercise to test the Bimodal Voter Accreditation Sys­tem (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) por­tal. The test run, scheduled for September 10, 2024, will take place across 12 polling units in six Local Govern­ment Areas, representing Edo State’s three senatorial districts.

This move underscores INEC’s determination to modernise Nigeria’s elec­toral processes, even as it faces resistance from polit­ical parties unprepared for the digital transition.

A group under the aegis of Igbo National Council (INC) Worldwide has revealed that about 98 security checkpoints exist in the five states of the Southeast region.

It also lamented what it described as incessant harassment and extortion from citizens and motorists by the security personnel manning the checkpoints.

In a press statement issued by its National Coordinator, Chilos Godsent, he revealed that Abia State topped the list with 37 checkpoints followed by Imo State with 23 checkpoints.

It further revealed that Anambra and Enugu have 15 checkpoints each, as Ebonyi came behind with 8 checkpoints.

The press statement said that the research was carried out by the directorate of human rights protection, a research department of the council with the mandate of checking human rights violations by various security outfits in the region.

It further stated that the council was propelled to embark on the task following a series of reports from members of the public on the humiliations they were encountering in the hands of the security personnel on a daily basis.

Godsent further stated in the press statement that some of the checkpoints are manned by a joint task force, comprising the military, police and civil defense, while at some blockades it will be either the military or the police.

He stated that even though the group was not happy with the rate of insecurity in the region, the security operatives should carry out their operations with human face.

The group pointed out that if the security personnel kept to rules of their professional engagement, it would build a healthy relationship between them and the civilians who also have responsibility of helping the security outfits in the fight against criminalities.

But the group, however, regretted that the checkpoints and outposts have allegedly turned to illegal toll gates and humiliation points against civilians who are the road users.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning that he will not permit any individual to seize control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structure in Rivers State.

The former Governor of Rivers State has threatened to spark a political crisis in the states of any PDP governors who dare to meddle in the party’s affairs in Rivers State, vowing to fiercely defend his home state’s PDP chapter against external interference.

The PDP governors, who met in Taraba State on August 23, weighed in on the crisis rocking the party in the state and reiterated their support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The PDP Governors’ Forum, in a communiqué read by its Chairman and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, called for a review of the party congress outcome to restore Fubara’s leadership role in the state.

Speaking at the PDP secretariat in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Saturday during the party’s state congress, Wike urged the PDP governors to stay clear of the party’s affairs in Rivers.

He said, “Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of the PDP from us. But let me tell people, I hear some governors who say they will take over the structure and give it back to somebody.

“I pity those governors because I will put fire in their states. When God has given you peace, you say you don’t want peace – anything you see, you take.

Because I heard they got some money from a signature bonus, and so their heads are getting big that they will put a hand in my own state. Prepare because I have the capacity to do the same thing in your state.

“Whether you are from Bauchi, I don’t give a damn; whichever state you are from, as far as I know that you are trying to put yourself in Rivers State, your hand will get burnt, and you will never sleep in your state.”

The Rivers PDP has been in crisis following the fallout between Wike and his predecessor, who was absent at the congress.