Off-cycle Elections: INEC Unveils Plans to Distribute Uncollected Voters Cards

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled its comprehensive strategy to ensure the availability of Uncollected Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) ahead of the upcoming off-cycle elections later this year. The announcement came during the Commission’s second quarterly meeting with the media held at its headquarters in Abuja. During the meeting, the Chairman of INEC reiterated the Commission’s unwavering commitment to facilitating robust voter participation in the electoral process. As part of this initiative, the Commission disclosed plans to publish the list of uncollected PVCs both in its offices and on its official website in the coming days. This measure aims to streamline the process for voters to locate and collect their cards efficiently. Emphasizing the significance of personal collection, the chairman underscored that no PVCs would be collected by proxy, urging registered voters to retrieve their cards in person. Furthermore, the Commission clarified that the final list of candidates for the upcoming off-cycle elections in Edo has been published following the conclusion of party primaries and the withdrawal/substitution period. Campaign activities by political parties in public commenced on April 24th, 2024, and will conclude 24 hours before the election date as mandated by law. In preparation for the Edo elections, media organizations have been urged to promptly apply for accreditation to cover the event. The Commission stressed the importance of adhering to the designated deadline and meeting accreditation criteria to ensure smooth processing. Addressing outstanding bye-elections, the Commission announced vacancies in four states, including State Assembly and Federal Constituency seats. Dates for bye-elections in these constituencies will be announced once preparations are finalized. Additionally, the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise is set to take place in Edo and Ondo States simultaneously from May 27th to June 5th, 2024. Eligible citizens who are not registered voters will have the opportunity to register, while registered voters can transfer their registration or replace lost/damaged cards. To accommodate the limited time before the elections, the registration will occur at ward levels and state headquarters, totaling 397 walk-in registration centers across the two states. In preparation for the CVR exercise, training for at least 794 officials will commence soon. Detailed information on registration centers and procedures has been made available on the Commission’s website and social media platforms. The chairman emphasized the pivotal role of the media in mobilizing prospective registrants for the CVR exercise, urging early registration to avoid last-minute rushes. Collaboration with the media was also solicited to ensure the success of the registration exercise and subsequent electoral processes, highlighting the importance of voter participation in shaping the democratic process.

FG distributes subsidized farm inputs to farmers in Kano

The Federal Government on Monday kick-started the distribution of subsidized farm inputs to farmers in Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State. The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ernest Afolabi, announced this during the inauguration of the distribution event in the ATASP-1 States, including Jigawa, Kebbi, Niger, and Sokoto. Dr. Ernest Afolabi, represented by Malam Tanimu Ibrahim, the Director of Planning and Policy Coordination, stated that the distribution marked the beginning of the 2023 delivery of subsidized inputs to approximately 60,000 farmers across the participating states. The program, which was initiated in March 2015, aims to enhance food and nutrition security, attract private-sector investments in agriculture, reduce post-harvest losses, and add value to local agricultural produce. Under the Commodity Value Chain Development component, the Federal Government, through the ministry, has been providing crucial production inputs to support farmers, emphasizing the importance of transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the input delivery process. To make the program more efficient, the government approved the introduction and use of an ICT platform for input delivery to farmers this year, highlighting the significance of this notable improvement. The Permanent Secretary reaffirmed the current administration’s commitment to boost agricultural production in the country, emphasizing the vital role of agriculture in achieving food security. Governor Abba Yusuf commended the initiative, represented by his deputy, Alhaji Aminu Gwarzo. He reiterated his administration’s dedication to providing farmers with affordable avenues to access soft loans from credible financial institutions, thus enhancing food security in the state. Alhaji Faruk Mudi, Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Kano State, assured that the farmers would utilize the inputs efficiently to produce diverse food crops, reflecting their commitment to agricultural growth and sustainability.

AMAC kicks off distribution of fertilizers, inputs to farmers

The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Chairman, Mr. Christopher Maikalangu, has distributed fertilizers and other agricultural inputs to 500 farmers across the twelve wards in the Area Council. He made the donation at the kick-off of the 2023 farming season in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) on Saturday in Abuja. The donated items include; 600 bags of fertilizers, agrochemicals, 20 wheelbarrows, nap sack sprayers, smoking kilns, hoes, cutlasses, rain boots, and hand gloves. Two motorcycles were given to two agriculture extension workers in the area council. Maikalangu said the items were meant to encourage farmers to boost their production and promote sales of farm produce in the council. He said that the area council had put in a deliberate policy direction that aims at improving the capacity of farmers and investing in the agriculture sector. Maikalangu also said that the donation was part of his campaign promises of improving the livelihoods of AMAC residents. “Agriculture is a panacea to social vices, therefore we should encourage our youth to engage themselves in agricultural activities because idleness is very dangerous. “Due to the urban renewal policy program of the FCT, most of our farmlands have been taken over by developers. Our farmers can no longer access farmlands for their subsistence farming and for other agricultural purposes. “This has greatly affected the growth of agriculture in the council which is one of the viable economic empowerment of our people. “I want to make a passionate appeal to FCTA on our need for integrated demonstration farmland in the council, this will help boost agricultural production in AMAC,” he said. He urged the beneficiaries to resist the temptation of selling the items given to them. Mr Musa John, a beneficiary, appreciated the chairman for the items adding that it would go a long way in boosting his agriculture output this year. “I want to appreciate the chairman for what he donated to us. I will ensure that I make use of these items judiciously,” he said.