Group blames Buhari for inconclusive elections

Election

• Urges review of Electoral Act, Constitution

A civil society organisation, Alliance for Credible Elections (ACE-Nigeria), has blamed President Muhammadu Buhari for the spate of inconclusive elections in the country.

The group said the failure to successfully conduct polls was caused by non-reconstitution of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) board by the President, which it said was a breach of established laws that has affected the smooth running of the commission.

It also called on the National Assembly to review the 2010 and 2015 Electoral Acts and the Constitution to remove the power of appointing Chairman of the commission and commissioners from the Executive arm of government.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, Acting General Secretary, ACE-Nigeria, Mma Odi, said that inconclusive elections have now become the new trend rather than an exception as witnessed in Kogi, Bayelsa, Osun, FCT, Imo and Nasarawa states. He stressed that the trend was fast becoming a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

She added that the disputed Imo North senatorial re-run election and the postponement of Rivers Sate senatorial re-run elections are signs that all is not well and that the bad days are back whenever the subject of discussion is electoral contest.

Odi said: “ACE-Nigeria and partners are calling on government of President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately reconstitute the board of INEC with persons of unquestionable integrity.

“INEC should do everything within its power to put an end to inconclusive elections and plan for, implement and ensure free, fair and credible elections in the remaining re-run polls and Edo and Ondo governorship elections.”

She, however, called on politicians to put an end to political gangsterism, which is capable of truncating Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy, adding that citizensshould follow the principles of free and fair elections.