Group warns INEC against derailing democracy

A pro-democracy group, the Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution (CDNDC), has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against derailing the electoral process

In a statement by its Co-convener, Ariyo-Dare Atoye, it accused the INEC of engaging in “electoral travesty.”

The group said the recent allegation of bias against the commission was a dangerous precedent, which may impair the credibility of the 2019 general elections.

Atoye added that some recent decisions taken by the electoral body were “worrisome trends which were designed to plot turbulent political reactions.”

The statement reads: “We wish to state that the culmination of some of the unsavoury things that the INEC had done or failed to do as an independent body, are creating political tension in the country.”

The CDNDC cited the commission’s actions in Abia, Rivers, Edo and Ondo elections as capable of creating undue tension, ahead of the general elections.

Atoye said the coalition was deeply disturbed that President Muhammadu Buhari had not intervened to stop this drift into anarchy.

He warned that only an independent, truthful and unbiased review of INEC would restore public confidence in its activities.

The statement added that Abia State was almost plunged into violence in the case between the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu and an aspirant John Ogah, when the commission selected which court order to obey.

Atoye condemned the replacement of Eyitayo Jegede, who was duly nominated as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s candidate, with Jimoh Ibrahim who did not participate in the party’s primaries.

“INEC had refused to obey the notice of appeal it received from Jegede, whose name it listed as the authentic candidate before the Justice Okon Abang’s controversial judgment.

The commission ought to stay action in executing Justice Abang’s since Jegede had appealed against it,” the statement added.

The group urged the Presidency and the National Assembly to intervene in these aberrations to avoid their repeat in the 2019 general actions.

He said the intervention was necessary to make the INEC clarify the recent allegations against it, that it printed fake ballot papers ahead of next month’s rerun elections in Rivers State.