The factional Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the forthcoming general elections if Federal Government fails to address the insecurity ravaging the country. The group noted that unpopular politicians and party’s candidates have perfected plans to heat up the polity, thereby creating an opening for violence and insecurity to mar the presidential election day.
In a statement in Abakaliki, the Secretary General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, noted that sponsors of these bandits and terrorists are out to scuttle the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) by INEC so that they can subvert the collective will of Nigerians at the polls.
Isiguzoro maintained that Nigerians are ready for the general elections, but if the process is compromised, and INEC uses insecurity challenges as an excuse for compromised elections results against expectations of Nigerians, there might be chaos and violent protests.
The statement reads: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo has called on Federal Government to use non-confrontational strategies to curb insecurity challenges in the country. The failure to discharge this responsibility of protecting life and property of Nigerians may compel INEC to postpone or cancel the 2023 elections.
“Obviously, unpopular politicians and candidates have heated the polity, creating an opening for violence and insecurity, which may mar the presidential election.
“This will not be the first time election dates would be shifted for inescapable justifications in Nigeria; in 2011 and 2019, elections days were rescheduled for reasons to achieve credible, free and fair elections. So, rather than have inconclusive, fraudulent and manipulated elections through insecurity challenges and violent process, which will destroy the credibility and integrity of 2023 elections, it is imperative that INEC postpones the elections until Federal Government addresses the problem of insecurity.
“It is better INEC postpones or cancels the elections, no matter the constitutional challenges facing the nation. The consequences of a manipulated, fraudulent and dubious electoral process will be a threat to our democracy.”
