By Clifford Ndujihe, Politics Editor
The polity is split over the decision of the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee, INEC, that native council polls carried out by State Impartial Electoral Fee, SIECs had been of low high quality.
READ ALSO: Quality of LG elections still low — INEC
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whereas receiving the brand new management of the Discussion board of State Impartial Electoral Commissions of Nigerian, FOSIECON, in Abuja, on Tuesday stated “the problem of native authorities elections is the standard of the elections.”
He confused the necessity for INEC, SIECs and different stakeholders to hammer out measures to enhance council polls.
Yakubu’s views elicited blended reactions. Whereas some disagreed with the INEC chairman, some agreed and instructed that the nationwide electoral physique ought to take over the conduct of council elections. But, some blamed the INEC for the rot in elections on the grassroots saying it additionally conducts flawed polls.
Those that spoke on the problem included the Dr Yunusa Tanko of the Obidient Motion; the African Democratic Congress, ADC; Northern Christian Affiliation of Nigeria, CAN; and state chapters of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos, Bayelsa, Ondo, Oyo, Zamfara and Osun.
Others had been Eric Omare of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC; Elder Joseph Ambakederimo of South-South Awakening Group; Mr Ayo Fadaka of South-West Peoples Democratic Get together, PDP; and a former Presidential aspirant on the platform of the Labour Get together, LP, Faduri Joesph amongst others.
All polls’re beneath par – Northern CAN
Sunday Oibe of Northern CAN, stated there may be nothing like native authorities elections in Nigeria.
“It is a bare fact. Even the blind can see and the deaf may hear clearly that the standard of all of the elections carried out by the Nigeria electoral umpire so far are beneath commonplace.
“As per the native authorities elections throughout the nation, there was nothing like an election however fairly, we witnessed imposition by the assorted state governors. The desires of the individuals are subverted in a brazen method. Nigeria political class has no regard for the desires of the individuals sadly so. What we’re witnessing is political banditry,” he stated.
Yakubu acknowledged the plain – Fadaka
Former Publicity Secretary of South-West PDP, South West, Hon Ayo Fadaka, stated that ” lNEC acknowledged the plain that the standard of elections at native authorities stage stays low, certainly abysmally low.
These elections can’t in good conscience be described as elections by any commonplace, it’s merely a coronation of these chosen by the Governors’ from inside their Events.
“Whereas commending INEC for stating the plain, INEC itself continues to be behaving beneath expectation in the way in which it handles elections. The method is at all times flawed and compromised to favour the ruling get together as a result of electoral legal guidelines are at all times compromised or typically put in complete abeyance, a minimum of as noticed in low season elections carried out not too long ago.”
Kettle can’t name pot black – Peretei
Former Publicity Secretary of Ondo State PDP, Hon Kennedy Peretei, stated: “As a lot as INEC’s verdict is correct, they need to take away the log of their eyes earlier than attempting to take away the mole of their neighbour’s eyes. The kettle doesn’t have any ethical authority to name the pot black.”
INEC underneath Yakubu failed Nigeria regardless of tech investments – ADC
Reacting, the ADC criticised the INEC for what it described because the declining high quality of elections in Nigeria, regardless of main investments in electoral expertise.
The get together accused INEC Chairman, Yakubu, of failing to ship credible elections throughout his tenure, saying public belief within the electoral course of has worsened underneath his management.
ADC Interim Nationwide Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, instructed Vanguard: “We agree with him (Yakubu). However the actual dialog is not only about native authorities elections, it’s in regards to the high quality of our elections usually. Sadly, the INEC Chairman’s time is up. However in case you ask most Nigerians, they are going to let you know that the standard of our elections has been more and more worse underneath his management regardless of investments in expertise.”
Abdullahi stated the talk ought to transcend native elections and deal with the general state of Nigeria’s electoral system. “The true concern is the integrity of our elections in any respect ranges,” Abdullahi added, calling for a full reform of Nigeria’s electoral system to rebuild public confidence.
Lagos APC requires collaboration
On its half, the Lagos State chapter of the APC, which reaped bountifully from the July 12 LG polls, stated it has taken be aware of Yakubu’s feedback and stated it’s dedicated to strengthening democratic establishments and processes in any respect ranges.
Lagos APC Spokesperson, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, stated: “We we should additionally emphasize that the conduct of native authorities elections falls underneath the purview of State Impartial Electoral Commissions (SIECs), whose independence, capability, and impartiality differ broadly throughout the nation. We agree that this fragmented construction typically results in inconsistencies within the administration and outcomes of those elections. The APC believes that reform is critical and well timed. We name for a nationwide dialog involving political events, the Nationwide Meeting, INEC, SIECs, civil society organizations, and different stakeholders to discover methods of bettering the credibility, transparency, and equity of native authorities elections. This may occasionally embody granting INEC extra supervisory or coordinating powers over the method, enhancing the autonomy of SIECs, and making certain a stage taking part in subject for all contestants.”
Fouad Oki, a chieftain of Lagos APC stated the INEC must work with political events on this and there’s a want for synergy between the 2 so as to win the belief of the voters.
Fadojoe requires pressing reforms
A former presidential aspirant underneath the Labour Get together, Faduri Joseph, popularly generally known as Fadojoe, lamented what he described because the “full erosion of democracy” on the native authorities stage in Nigeria, saying the nation’s foundational tier of governance has been decreased to a instrument of state management and political manipulation.
Fadojoe stated native authorities elections throughout the nation have grow to be a “stage-managed affair” the place candidates are handpicked, opposition voices are stifled, and voters are mere spectators in a course of that has misplaced all credibility.”
He referred to as for the institution of unbiased native electoral commissions, free from the affect of state governors, and a constitutional modification to grant full monetary and administrative autonomy to native authorities councils. The present system, the place State Impartial Electoral Commissions (SIECs) are underneath the thumb of state executives, is a mockery of democracy.”
No pleasure in LG polls – Tanko
In keeping with Dr Tanko Yunusa of the Obidient Motion, the Native Authorities is definitely the grassroot governance, which must be actually enhanced and elections needs to be made free, truthful and justifiable.
Nevertheless, he lamented that council polls at the moment are closely manipulated, and canvassed that “INEC ought to conduct the Native Authorities elections for equity, fairness and justice, in order that many political events may be a part of that electoral constructing block on the Native Authorities.”
“That manner,you may have many of the issues that we’ve ,comparable to problems with insecurity, correct dissemination of funding, assimilation and grassroot constructing, must also be disseminated on to these in positions of energy within the Native Authorities.
“There is no such thing as a pleasure in Native Authorities elections, and it must be the primary level of pleasure, the place individuals would come out en mass and vote for credible candidates of their alternative. Sadly, in our personal case in Nigeria, it’s the winner takes all syndrome,” he added.
Bayelsa APC, Omare, Ambakederimo converse
The APC in Bayelsa State threw its weight behind Yakubu’s declaration that the standard of native authorities elections within the nation continues to be very low.
The get together by way of its state Publicity Secretary, Doifie Buokoribo stated: “We agree with INEC on the standard of Native Authorities elections in Nigeria. There’s want for enchancment. INEC itself wants to enhance by itself elections. Free and truthful elections are a part of the rights of citizenship, not doubtful luxuries.”
Additionally talking, the speedy previous chairman of Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, worldwide, Eric Omare stated: “I agree with INEC that the standard of native governments election is nothing to put in writing dwelling about. Nevertheless, I hasten so as to add that, if care isn’t taken, INEC carried out elections can also degenerate to that stage quickly with the renewed impunity with which elections are carried out.”
In his remarks, Elder Joseph Ambakederimo, Convener, South South Reawakening Group, stated: “Definitely, speaking in regards to the high quality of native authorities elections within the nation is something however a charade.”
INEC ought to conduct LG elections — Shinkafi
A chieftain of the APC in Zamfara State, Suleiman Shuaibu Shinkafi, referred to as for the speedy switch of accountability for conducting native authorities elections from SIECs to the INEC, insisting that such a transfer is critical to revive equity, justice, and transparency on the grassroots stage. He referred to as for modification of the structure to empower the INEC to supervise native elections, as a part of broader electoral reforms.
Osun, Oyo, Ondo APC converse
Wole Adunola, Osun APC Publicity Secretary stated that “election in native authorities council has grow to be a contentious concern as a result of manner and method ruling events win all councillor and chairmanship positions throughout get together line. I imagine that one of many methods to liberate that tier of presidency is to make autonomy work in totality.”
In his response, the Oyo State Secretary of the APC, Mr Wale Shadare stated, “The submission by INEC has been a topic of debate by political watchers for fairly a while. Going by our expertise within the hand of Gov. Seyi Makinde in 2024, there may be nothing like the sleek conduct of native authorities elections in many of the states and this must be seemed into by all involved.”
And Oyo APC chairman, Alhaji Olaide Abass stated that “the assertion by INEC highlights a crucial concern that we are able to not afford to miss. The integrity of native authorities elections is prime to our democracy and the general governance of our communities. It’s disheartening to see that the very basis of grassroots management is compromised, undermining the belief of the voters.”
Additionally, Ondo APC Director of Media and Publicity, Hon Steve Otaloro, stated: “Whereas I perceive INEC’s considerations in regards to the high quality of native authorities elections within the nation, it’s vital to acknowledge that INEC itself has confronted criticism relating to its conduct of nationwide elections. Many Nigerians really feel that the elections didn’t meet expectations, elevating questions in regards to the integrity and transparency of the electoral course of in any respect ranges.”
Dayo Johnson, Sam Oyadongha, Olasunjanmi Akoni, Rotimi Ojomoyela, Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo, Shina Abubakar, Laolu Elijah, Deola Badru & Luminous Jannamike additionally contributed to this report.
The publish ‘Elections Below Par’: ADC, Obidients, APC, CAN react to INEC’s verdict on LG polls appeared first on Vanguard News.
