By Ayo Kehinde
INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu
A group, Movement for Change Worldwide, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to restore confidence in the electoral process by responding quickly to douse doubts and fears being expressed by stakeholders in its preparations for the conduct of the 2023 general election.
Expressing what it called deep disappointment and concerns about the poor handling of the entire electoral process by the Commission, the group stated that the upcoming elections should be used by the electoral umpire to help consolidate democratic governance in the country.
Spokesperson of the group, Mr. March Oyinki, said, “We have re-emphasized for the umpteenth time our grievance about the total lack of capacity of INEC to moderate the conduct of political parties and their candidates, referencing the recent delegate elections and the shameful public sales and vote buying by delegates and aspirants during the conduct of their convention.
“Then there is the public call on INEC to look into allegations of the compromise of the voters register, even with physical evidence to support the allegation as in the case of Orlu LGA. This has continually fell into deaf ears, making it appear as if both INEC and the Federal government are encouraging election rigging.
While recognizing the herculean task facing the Commission in conducting an election in an environment where equity, justice and fairness are in short supply, he however, called on the Commission to pay close attention to the antics of some state governors who are preventing the Labour Party in Nigeria from staging peaceful rallies in their states, adding that their body language shows they may be hostile to peaceful conduct of the coming poll in their respective domain.
” We have raised concerns about the visible threat of violence in Lagos, which has been further heightened by the deputy governor’s public declaration that Labour Party is not welcomed in the State,” he said.
