NAN-H-74
Impunity
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, March 23, 2017 (NAN) The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged the Presidential Committee on Electoral Reforms to prevail on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure fairness in its dealings with political parties.
The Sen. Ken Nnamani-led committee is currently seeking inputs from stakeholders to enable it to fashion the best electoral cum constitutional framework that will guarantee the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos, the Lagos State Chairman of ADC, Mr Nkem Lemchi, said there was need for INEC to guard against electoral malpractice.
Cue in audio 1 (Lemchi)
“The impunity of the INEC has to be stopped; INEC must be an impartial judge.
“A situation where you give them money and they doctor figures and do whatever they like should be checked.
“We had an election in December at Ifako/Ijaiye, governors from other states came and influenced it.
“And we that prepared they gave us third; whereas people who did not prepare got second and first.
“So there should be serious concern for this issue of impunity that is going on.
“They have to look into the issue of electoral malpractices.
“Also this issue of police playing some normal role has to be checked, the security are there only to guard, protect and not to take part.’’
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Reacting to the ADC official’s allegations, Mr Femi Akinbinyi, the Public Relation Officer of INEC in Lagos, said s baseless.
Cue in audio 2 (Akinbiyi)
“INEC did not connive with any governor and there was no presence of any governor during the bye election, INEC does not support any other party to rig anybody out.
“It is not true; he should have raised the issue then.
“Why raising it now? In what aspect, in what form did the presence of governors from other states affect the results if at all there was any?
“That day, thank God there was restriction in neighboring Ogun State.
“And incidentally he did not talk about low turnout of people, the turnout was very low and then the best party won.’’
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LED/ERO/YEE
Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Emmanuel Yashim
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