Youth-Vote 2015

 YOUTH-VOTE

Promoting youth participation in the democratic process is one of the cardinal objectives pursued by Spaces for Change (S4C).  Youth-Vote (YV) aims to engage communities, especially the youth populations with a history of non-voting, including those communities least likely to be reached by traditional voter outreach methods. 

YV believes that in order to effectively reform the electoral process, concerted efforts must be made to overturn voter apathy, particularly by stimulating public interest and participation in the entire electioneering developments: from the selection/emergence of candidates; formulation of political party manifesto; election campaigns; voting at elections up to the declaration of results.

When is the best time to prepare for elections? Why and when should citizens, especially the youth get involved? What are the benefits of participation? What kind of leaders do young Nigerians want to see in the 2015 elections? And most importantly, are there certain persons Nigerians would want to see ascend to positions of power? 

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Getting Ready for Ekiti Guber Election

In an effort to correct some of the flaws witnessed in the November 16, 2013 Anambra governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has introduced the following electoral processes to improve the quality of the forthcoming Ekiti governorship election that will take place on June 21, 2014.

1.    Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS)

 

If you are unable to find your name(s) on the accredited voters’ register that will be used for the election, the under-mentioned are the likely causes:

¡ Your registration may have been invalidated due to multiple registrations.

¡ If AFIS discovers a duplicate or multiple registrations, it will invalidate those registrations.

¡ If the Equivalent Attribute Matching discovers a duplicate registration, it will  invalidate those registrations.

¡ If a registration was done without fingerprints and another registration was done with fingerprints and same bio-data is in the same Polling Unit, it will invalidate the first registration and keep the second. 

2.    Missing Data

a.   Data loss during field work – theft, crashed laptops and during data aggregation;

b.   For the 2011 General Elections, such persons had their names typed into an Addendum Register which has been incorporated into the main voters register

c.    During the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) in Anambra State, the Commission deployed Direct Data Capture Machines to these Polling Units for data re-capture;

d.   Those who did not find their names on the register are those that made no effort at confirming their registration status and did not come out for the CVR.

 

3.    Voter Verification Exercise & Distribution of PVCs

a.   All voters will go to their respective Polling Units (PUs)to verify their registration status and collect their Permanent Voters Card( PVCs)

b. The list of voters who have successfully passed through the AFIS and the Business Rules for PVCs will be displayed at each POs, and their PVCs will also be available for collection.

4.    Voter Registration Transfers

a.   If you had initially registered in a state or ward and in the course of time have left the original area where you registered and wish to vote in the new ward or state you find yourself. Then apply to the Resident Electoral Commission through the Election Officer of the new Local Government Area.

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ELECTION TIME TABLE IN EKITI STATE

DATE	ACTIVITY
March 3rd, 2014	Notice of election in Ekiti State.
March 23rd, 2014	Campaigns for elections in Ekiti State commence.
April 1st , 2014	Collection of forms for election by political parties.
April 14th, 2014	Last date for the conduct of party primaries including resolution of disputes arising from primaries.
April 21st, 2014	Last date for the submission of forms CF001 and CF002.
April 28th, 2014	Publication of personal particulars of candidates.
May 7th, 2014	Last day for the withdrawal by candidates(s)/replacement of withdrawn candidates.
May 13th, 2014	Last day of submission of nomination forms by political parties.
May 20th, 2014	Publication of official register for voters for the election and publication of the list of nominated candidates.
June 4th, 2014	Publication of notice of poll.
June 5th, 2014	Submission of the names of the party agents for the election to the electoral officer of the Local Government or Area Council.
June 19th, 2014	Campaigns for elections in Ekiti State end.
June 21st, 2014	Governorship election in Ekiti State.

ELECTION TIME TABLE IN OSUN STATE

DATE	ACTIVITY
May 11th, 2014	Campaigns for elections in Osun State commence.
May 19th, 2014	Collection of forms by political parties at the INEC headquarters.
June 2nd, 2014	Last date for the conduct of part primaries including resolution of disputes arising from the primaries.
June 19th, 2014	Last day for the submission of Forms CF001 and CF002 at the INEC headquarters.
June 16th, 2014	Publication of personal particulars of candidates.
June 25th, 2014	Last day for the withdrawal of candidate(s) and or replacement of withdrawn candidates by political parties.
July 1st, 2014	Last day for the submission of nomination forms by political parties.
July 8th, 2014	Publication of official register of voters for the election and publication of list of nominated candidates.
July 23rd, 2014	Publication of notice of poll.
July 24th, 2014	Submission of the names of the party agents for the election to the electoral officer of the Local Government or Area Council.
August 7th, 2014	Campaigns for elections in Osun State end.
August 9th, 2014	Governorship election in Osun State.

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YOUTH-VOTE 2015 (YV2015)

The 2015 election timetable is out, and Spaces for Change's (S4C's) Youth-Vote2015 (YV-2015) campaign has kicked off again...

Its not enough for us to shout, complain and whine about bad governance, corruption, and poor implementation of policies and programs. Its time to move away from that complaining mode, and start interrogating the new social and economic policy agenda, ideologies and manifestoes of the new political groups and their contenders.

We need to directly engage the new aspirants, the presidential and parliamentary hopefuls, to ask them questions that matter to us. We need to find out how they will create jobs, tackle corruption in the oil sector, improve learning infrastructure and educational standards, and evaluate their blueprint for bringing about developmental and economic progress  to Nigerians. We need to know what they will do differently from the present regime. Nigerians don't just want "anyhow" change, but a more impactful change that can deliver improved social welfare and economic benefits for the betterment of all Nigerian citizens...

YV2015 forms part of a broader campaign to deepen democratic participation, while ensuring that the 2015 election campaigns of the various parties remain issue-driven, citizen-focused and reflects the priorities of Nigerian youths.... Here we go!

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2015 General Election Time Table

DATE	ELECTION TYPE
National Assembly	February 14th , 2015
Presidential	February 14th , 2015
Governorship	February 28th, 2015
State Assembly	February 28th , 2015

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         Anambra Decides 2013

Breakdown of Voter Population, Polling Units and Voting Points

S/N	LGA	Wards	Registered Voters	No. of Pus	Voting Points
1.	Aguata	20	101, 974	300	381
2.	Ayamelum	11	55, 936	173	199
3.	Anambra East	15	61, 178	200	243
4.	Anambra West	10	43,172	158	173
5.	Anaocha	19	76, 812	310	333
6.	Awka North	14	44, 159	130	163
7.	Awka South	20	118, 312	255	414
8.	Dunukofia	14	45, 289	146	176
9.	Ekwusigo	12	62, 318	175	222
10.	Idemili  North	12	173, 832	306	592
11.	Idemili South	12	85, 731	200	309
12.	Ihiala	20	113, 783	278	402
13.	Njikoka	18	70, 415	201	252
14.	Nnewi North	10	112,121	198	388
15.	Nnewi South	20	57, 069	295	300
16.	Ogbaru	16	139, 057	293	491
17.	Onitsha South	17	123, 466	200	417
18.	Onitsha North	15	117, 332	201	386
19.	Orumba North	18	61, 321	231	267
20.	Orumba South	18	46, 100	192	211
21.	Oyi	15	75, 159	166	262
	Totals	326	1, 784, 536	4, 608	6, 581

              Gender Distribution of Voter Population

                            Ø  Females   - 900,701 (50.5%)

                            Ø  Males       - 883, 835 (49.5%)

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Anambra Decides 2013

GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATES FOR THE ANAMBRA GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION 2013

Pursuant to the time table and schedule of activities for the Anambra State Governorship scheduled to hold on 16^th November, 2013. Twenty three (23) Political Parties submitted names of candidates they propose to sponsor at the election. The Commission after due consideration of the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), the various judgments and orders of the various High Courts on the candidate for the election particularly those of the People Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) approved that the Form CF001 (Personal Particular) of the candidates of the election be published.

Accordingly, the Form CF001 of the following candidates as submitted by their Political Parties or as ordered by the Court are now been published in Anambra State in accordance of the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).

SN	STATE ANAMBRA	NAME OF CANDIDATE	SEX	PARTY	AGE	QUALIFICATION
1.	GOVERNOR	OKEKE CHIKA JERRY	M	AA	39	B.SC
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	ONYENKA SUSAN E.	F	AA	55	B.ED
2.	GOVERNOR	CHUKUEMEKA NWANKWO	M	ACCORD	38	B.SC
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	CHIEF GABRIEL OBI ANIKPEH	M	ACCORD	56	MBA
3.	GOVERNOR	DR. IFEATU EKELEM	M	ACD	59	MSPH
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	CHRISTIAN MADIEBO	M	ACD	59	WASC
4.	GOVERNOR	ENGR. ANTHONY ANENE	M	ACPN	49	M.ENG
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	IKECHUKWU GODWIN OKAGBUE	M	ACPN	58	WASC
5.	GOVERNOR	COMR. AARON IGWEZE E.	M	AD	63	DIPLOMA
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	EBO KENNETH CHUKWUEMEKA	M	AD	49	GCE
6.	GOVERNOR	CHIEF ANAYO ARINZE	M	ADC	53	HND.PGD
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	PASTOR DONATUS C. ATTAH	M	ADC	54	DIPLOMA
7.	GOVERNOR	PATRICK CHUKWUEMEKA IBEZIAKO	M	APA	49	B.SC
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	ANADI CHUKWUNONSO GABRIEL	M	APA	33	B.SC
8.	GOVERNOR	SEN. CHRIS NWABUEZE NGIGE	M	APC	61	BM, BCH,DIP.
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	DR. MIKE AGHADIUNO	M	APC	61	PH.D, MSC
9.	GOVERNOR	CHIEF WILLIE MADUABUCHI OBIANO	M	APGA	58	MBA
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	DR. NKEMAKONAM C. OKEKE	M	APGA	53	PH.D
10.	GOVERNOR	CHIEF AUSTIN NWANKWO	M	CPP	57	B.SC
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	BARR. CHINENYE UJU OKONGWU	F	CPP	36	LLB,BL
11.	GOVERNOR	CHIJIOKE GEOFREY NDUBUISI	M	DPP	52	LLB
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	MICHEALSON PATRICK ARIMA	M	DPP	53	GCE
12.	GOVERNOR	CHRISTIAN IKECHUKWU OTTI	M	ID	47	HND
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	NDIFE FRANKLIN IKENNA	M	ID	35	B.SC
13.	GOVERNOR	CHIEF DENNIS NWANFORKA OGUGE	M	KOWA	49	WASC
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	REV. CANON RUFUS OKEKE S.E.	M	KOWA	49	BA.ED
14.	GOVERNOR	PATRICK IFEANYI UBAH	M	LABOUR	42	NECO
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	PRINCE DR. EMEKA EZE	M	LABOUR	47	BMBS
15	GOVERNOR	PASTOR SIMON CHINWEUBA OKAFOR	M	MPPP	44	NABTEB
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	REV. EZE C. MIRACLE	M	MPPP	49	WASC
16.	GOVERNOR	OKONKWO EMEKA WEBSTER	M	NCP	43	DVM
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	IKWUEMESI TOCHUKWU JAMES C.	M	NCP	35	B.SC
17.	GOVERNOR	PRINCE LEONARD UCHENDU	M	NNPP	44	WASC
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	BARR. ANTONY ANAZOR	M	NNPP	34	LLB,LB,BL
18.	GOVERNOR	NICHOLAS CHUKWUEJEKWU UKACHUKWU	M	PDP	COURT ORDER	COURT ORDER
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR
19.	GOVERNOR	EZEEMO GODWIN CHUKWUNENYE	M	PPA	59	HND
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	CHIKWENZE ANANWUDE RAPHAEL	M	PPA	55	PH.D
20.	GOVERNOR	HON. BASIL IWUOBA ORANEKWU IJEDIMNA	M	PPN	49	B.SC
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	OKOYE CHIJIOKE JACINTA	F	PPN	39	HND
21.	GOVERNOR	ONUARAH BASIL ONYEACHONAM	M	SDP	36	LLB
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	EZEMA OBIAGELI LETICIA	F	SDP	47	BA,MPA
22.	GOVERNOR	BARR. OKOYE GODSON MGBODILE OHAENYEN	M	UDP	50	LLB,BL
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	NEBE BRIAN CHINEDUN ONYIBO	M	UDP	44	B.SC
23.	GOVERNOR	PRINCE AKANEEBU OGOCHUKWU N.C	M	UPP	61	B.SC
	DEPUTY GOVERNOR	CHUBA SUNDAY NWACHUKWU	M	UPP	54	B.SC, MBA
		SUMMARY	GOVERNOR		DEPUTY GOVERNOR
		TOTAL NO. OF MALES	23		18
		TOTAL NO. OF FEMALES	0		4

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                 Anambra Decides 2013

Youth and Women Participation in the Anambra Elections

What roles are Nigerian youth and women playing in the Anambra elections coming up on November 16, 2013? 

Generally speaking, ‘youth” as commonly used in the Nigerian political parlance refers to persons within the 18-40 years age bracket. Using that parameter, we will go ahead and tell what roles these category of persons are playing in the Anambra elections. 

It is interesting to observe that the Anambra election prominently features the youth in many roles in the electioneering process: as governorship and deputy governorship aspirants, INEC adhoc staff, election observers and monitors.  The level of youth participation in this election is considered an improvement when compared to previous gubernatorial elections where young actors and voices were hardly visible. 

Governorship Aspirants: Only two political parties fielded candidates below 40 as their governorship flag bearers in the November 16, 2013 guber election. They are: Okeke Chika Jerry (39) of the Action Alliance; Chukwuemeka Nwankwo (38) of the Accord Party 

Deputy Governorship Aspirants: Seven political parties fielded young men and women aged between 33-36 for the position of deputy governor. They are: Anadi Chukwunonso Gabriel (33)of the African Peoples Alliance (APA); Michaealson Patrick Arima (35) of the DPP; Ndife Franklin Ikenna (35) of the ID; Ikwuemesi Tochukwu James (35) of the National Conscience Party; Anthony Anazor (34) of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP); Okoye Chijioka Jacinta (39) of the Peoples' Party of Nigeria (PPN); Chinenye Uju Okonkwo (36) of the citizens Popular Party (CPP) and Ezema Obiageli Leticia of the SDP.

Women: In terms of women participation, only three political parties fielded women for the deputy governorship position. They are Mrs. Onyeka Susan (55) of the Action Alliance; Okoye Chijioka Jacinta (39) of the PPN; and Chinenye Uju Okonkwo (36) of the CPP. Two out of three women are below the age of 40. 

None of the parties fielded any woman as its governorship candidate.  The few number of women considered for elective positions in the Anambra election is not unconnected with their historical exclusion from the formal arena of politics. Establishing quotas for women’s representation at different levels of political governance is one of the main strategies for achieving this goal in many countries. It does not seem that most of the political parties recognize such a strategy. 

AdHoc Staff: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recruited 12,000 members of the National Youth Service Corps as adhoc staff for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra. The use of NYSC members as ad hoc staff was in line with the NYSC management’s pledge to assist INEC in efforts to conduct hitch-free elections in the country. Additional corps members were recruited from Delta and Enugu states because Anambra did not have the required number of NYSC members required for the exercise. 

Election Observers and Monitors: A number of youth-led and youth-focused organizations and movements are members of the Election Situation Room (ESR), a coalition of more than 35 civil society groups and non-governmental organizations in Nigeria, committed to observing all elections conducted across Nigeria. Come November 16, 2013, the ESR and several organizations will deploy hundreds of election observers to the field, who will provide very regular information about their findings to the general public. 

Organizations like Space for Change, EIE Nigeria, Reclaim Naija and so forth are deploying their staff and volunteers as observers in the Anambra election.

Are you on twitter? Then follow @spaces4change or the hashtag: #SRAnambraVotes to get on-the-spot news of happenings on the field.

Keep a date here everyday!   

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Anambra Decides 2013

 Are you an Anambrarian/ What you need to do

The people of Anambra are getting ready for the gubernatorial polls, come November 16, 2013.  The elections will usher in a new state governor to take over the mantle from the present governor, Mr. Peter Obi. 

Are you an Anambrarian? Are you ready??? The success or otherwise of the elections depends on the level of voter preparedness to vote and protect their mandates.  So, this is the best time for you get prepared for the D-Day. On our own part, we will continue to provide you with empowering facts and information, including daily updates regarding the elections. We will start by telling you what you need to do in the next couple of days before the election. 

First off, have you reached voting age? Did you register? If you did, you need to verify your registration. You can do this using any mobile device connected to any of the telecommunication networks.

This is how to verify: type Anambra SPACE your last name(surname) SPACE and the last five digits of your registration number and then send it as text to: 08171646879

EXAMPLE: Anambra Obioma 88674 : click send to 08171646879

Secondly, you need to know where to channel your queries and concerns regarding the preparation for, or the conduct of the elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission has set up a Citizens Contact Center  (CCC)– "a facility allowing the general public constant access to the Commission with enquiries and exchange of information". 

The CCC operates daily, and is open between 9am and 5pm. Plans are underway to scale up the CCC to render round-the-clock (i.e. 24-hour) service. The Centre can be accessed through the following telephone numbers: 07098116381, 07098115257, 07098117563 and 07098110916.

Thirdly, many young people are always eager to know the election results, and to get instant updates of what is happening in the different polling units across the state. Thanks to the Election Situation Room comprising more than thirty (35) civil society groups and non-governmental organizations in Nigeria, hundreds of election observers will be deployed to the field, who will provide very regular information about their findings to the general public. 

Are you on twitter? Then follow the hashtag: #SRAnambraVotes to get on-the-spot news of happenings on the field. Livefeeds of the election observation reports on the Anambra election can also be accessed directly on www.electionsituationroom.wordpress.com  

To ensure adequate spread of election news and engagement on the developments, live feeds can also be accessed from Spaces for Change group on Facebook where young Nigerians across the globe engage in robust debates and discussions on issues affecting the political, social and economic governance in Nigeria.  See the link to the page HERE:  

https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacesforchange/

Like we promised, the daily updates on the Anambra elections has just begun. Keep a date here everyday!