Group to deploy 363 observers for Ondo election

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State

The Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) said on Thursday that 363 well-trained, non-partisan observers would be deployed across Ondo State for the Nov. 26 Governorship election.

A Consultant for YIAGA, Mr Paul James, disclosed this during a “Watch the Vote (WTV)’’ media training organised by YIAGA in Akure.

He said that the observers would include 340 stationary and 23 roaming observers deployed to 300 polling units to collate data for the Parallel Votes Tabulation (PVT) methodology.

James said that the PVT method deployed for the election would be evidence- based to verify election processes and its outcome, adding that this would only be shared publicly after original results for INEC had been released.

“The PVT is driven by data, non-partisan and has no affiliation to any political party and has also performed in Ghana, Malawi, Madagascar and Zambia, ‘’ he said.

The WTV Project Manager for YIAGA, Miss Cynthia Mbamalu, stressed the importance of media to keep the government on its toes.

She said the media needed to be carried along with such programmes in a bid to ensure that the electoral process was free and fair.

“The media remains a critical factor in achieving a peaceful, credible, free and fair election on Nov.26.

“Random sampling of polling units will be employed with observers assigned to each and sending coded messages to the data centres.

“PVT builds voters’ confidence and helps them builds trust in the system because the major challenge is not having confidence in the system, ‘’ Mbamalu said.

Comments

Court grants Fani-Kayode N50m bail

Fani-kayode sandwiched by EFCC officials Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday granted a N50m bail to former spokesman of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode. Fani-Kayode was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N26m. Fani-Kayode is the sole defendant in the fresh charges numbered, FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2016. The EFCC accused the defendant of diverting 26 million Naira allegedly received from the ONSA while Sambo Dasuki was in office. The anti-graft agency also accused him of handling the said N26 million without going through financial institution as required under the Money Laundering Act. The embattled former minister is already facing 17-count charge of money laundering before the Lagos Division of the court, along with a former Finance Minister; Nenadi Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and a firm; Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited. They were charg

FG berates US congressman over comment

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture Photo: Femi Ipaye/PM News The Federal Government has described as sadly out of tune with reality the published letter from US Congressman Tom Marino to Secretary of State John Kerry, asking the US to withhold security assistance to Nigeria on the strength of some imaginary infraction by the Buhari Administration. In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said Congressman Marino was poorly informed about the issues he commented on, wondering why he did not take the pains to get first hand information from the US Embassy in Nigeria or any other credible source before engaging in what is nothing but a ‘propaganda of his own imagination’. The Minister said by asking the US to refrain from selling warplanes and other military equipment to Nigeria based on a faulty premise, the Congressman has demonstrated a poor understanding of global security issues. ”Insecurity anywhere i

Aubameyang leads Gabon to Nations Cup

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leads the cast for Gabon as the hosts became the first team to name their final 2017 Africa Cup of Nations squad. The team captain and Borussia Dortmund star will lead the home players out for the opening game of the tournament against debutants Guinea-Bissau on 14 January in Libreville. Gabon have also named Sunderland midfielder Didier Ndong despite the player being left out of November’s World Cup qualifier in Mali. Ndong was in the capital city Libreville but failed to turn up for international duty ahead of the Mali game last month, forcing the Gabonese Football Federation [Fegafoot] to send him back to England. But a remorseful Ndong, who held clear-the-air talks with Fegafoot has been included in a 23-man Panthers squad. Other names to make the final party include Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina, Bruno Ecuélé Manga of Cardiff City and China-based striker Malick Evouna. Gabon coach José Antonio Camacho included three do

Global Naija Info

Search This Blog