Come Saturday 16th November 2013, the good
people of Anambra state in Nigeria will go to the polls to exercise their
franchise in deciding who will govern the state for the next four years.
In as much as we at (CRGI) are very much apprehensive and
hopeful for a free, peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections, the
performance of INEC and some stakeholders especially the security agencies with
regards to recently conducted elections have been scandalous and a rape on
democracy.
We have witnessed repeatedly how INEC under the leadership of
Professor Attahiru Jega have behaved true to type like its predecessors in
undermining our democracy with conduct of elections that are detrimental to the
wellbeing of our society. The most recent was the shameful and
democracy undermining conduct of INEC in the Delta State Central Senatorial
elections in which its ad hoc staffs protested nonpayment of allowances and
refused to go to the polling units until late in the day. Also, INEC like the
proverbial leopard which cannot change its spots didn’t get to polling units
with sensitive electoral materials in almost the whole Senatorial zone in Delta
State Central till about 3pm which was a clear violation of the Electoral Act
which stipulates specific time for accreditation and actual voting by the
electorate.
This violation of the Electoral Act has become a recurring
decimal and a source of concern for genuine patriots who are desirous that
Nigeria gets it right by conducting elections worthy of its status a non
permanent member of the United Nations, hence all hands must be on deck to
admonish INEC that we the people of Nigeria will no longer tolerate the
violation of the peoples fundamental right to vote through democratic
undermining actions like late arrival of personnel and sensitive materials
amongst others to the polling centers on Saturday.
We are hereby using this medium to enjoin INEC to do a test run
of arrival time at the polling units by ensuring that its staffs are conversant
with their place of operation before election day proper. INEC is also
admonished now to do a forensic auditing of its sensitive electoral materials
for deployment to the polling units and wards in order to ensure availability
of sufficient voting materials on voting day. Also, INEC is implored to make proper
transportation arrangement now in order to avoid logistic hiccups which might
hinder the conduct of a credible exercise. INEC should as well ensure the
prompt payment of the allowances of its personnel in order to prevent a repeat
of the Delta Central Senatorial election show of shame this time around.
We as well want to admonish our security agencies to take
cognizance of the fact that the conducts of its men and officers during
elections have constituted a national embarrassment and violation of the
constitution because they have denigrated to the despicable level of being
partisan and used to subvert the peoples will. This will not be tolerated in
the Anambra state gubernatorial election, thus, we are hereby urging the
security agencies that will be deployed to provide security on Election Day to
be vigilant and focused on their constitutional duty and refrain from acts that
will compromise their official responsibility to the people and constitution of
the Federal republic of Nigeria.
We equally want to educate the participating political parties
that they too have a societal responsibility role to play in contributing their
own quota towards the success of this election by conducting themselves in line
with provisions of the Electoral Acts and the constitution. This election must
be firmly rooted in the mantra of one man, one vote.
We are hereby enjoining the Anambra electorate that come
Saturday 16th November 2013, they have a date with history to
determine the direction of their destiny for the next four years by being
vigilant and trooping out enmasse to perform their civic duty in voting wisely
for the candidate of their choice based on integrity and pedigree rather than
sentiments.
As for INEC, this election presents another Golden opportunity
to prove that they have turned a new leaf and are prepared to birth to the
Nigerian people an electoral system that is free, fair, credible and a source
of pride to the rest of the world.
A word is enough for the wise!
Signed:
Nelson Ekujumi,
Executive Director
CRGI
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