APC says assurances by INEC boss offer hope of free polls
(Nigeria) The All Progressives Congress, APC, has said Nigeria may be
able to organize truly free, fair, credible and transparent elections in the nearest
future if the recent comments by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega reflect the
thinking of the electoral commission.
Nigeria 's
long quest to hold elections that are not only free, fair and transparent, but
are seen to be so by the local and international community.
APC in a statement issued in Lagos on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said three issues
stand out in comments credited to the INEC boss: that hooded security personnel
would no longer be allowed during elections, that the security paraphernalia in
future elections should be under the control of INEC and that the Commission
will use e-card readers for the 2015 general elections.
It said if indeed the INEC boss meant what he said, then it
is a breakthrough of sorts in
APC however said it would hold Prof. Jega to his promises to
avoid a repeat of the situation in the past when promises made by the electoral
chief were not kept.
''During the voter's registration exercise, Prof. Jega vowed
that anyone who engages in double or multiple registration would be prosecuted.
However, some parties who probably had an advanced knowledge that his statement
was an empty threat apparently encouraged their members to engage in double or
multiple registration, thus gaining undue advantage over others, yet they were
never prosecuted.
''Also, during the last Ekiti State governorship election, Prof.
Jega announced that colour-coded ballot papers would be used in different local
governments to prevent election fraud, but that never happened and no reason
was given for the failure. This is why we intend to hold Prof. Jega to every
word he said in connection with the key issues mentioned above,'' the party said.
APC recalled that before the Osun governorship election
earlier this month, the party warned that the use of hooded security personnel would
encourage hoodlums with access to police or Department of State Service, DSS uniforms to invade the state
and perpetrate mayhem in the name of providing security.
''Sadly, that is exactly what happened during the election.
In fact, media reports have said at least one person is now being prosecuted after
he and others were found wearing black T-shirts with the inscription 'Police'
in front and 'DSS' on its back during the Osun election. Is there any clearer evidence that some of those
who came to Osun in hoods were actually fake security agents?'' the party
queried.
It also recalled that on May 26, 2014, the APC issued a
statement in which it tasked INEC to immediately commence the process that will
lead to the use of the e-card reader for the elections in Ekiti and Osun States ,
if indeed the electoral body is committed to ensuring that the polls are free,
fair and transparent.
''If that advice had been heeded by INEC, perhaps the
allegations of electoral fraud, and the litigation following the elections in
both states, would not have arisen.
''As we said in the May 26, statement, 'Impersonation,
multiple voting and endless altercations and associated tension will be eliminated
at the voting centres with the use of e-card reader and not by any other means.
Also, the e-card reader will ensure the automatic recording of all accredited
voters with verified permanent voter's cards in such a way that does not lend
itself to manipulation, thus preventing the falsification of results at the
collation centres,” APC said.
The party challenged INEC to put its money where its mouth
is by using October's Governorship Election in Adamawa State
to test the measures that will ensure credible elections in 2015, including
barring hooded security personnel, taking charge of the security men and women
to be deployed for the election and using e-card reader to forestall electoral
fraud.
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