INEC threatening Nigeria’s democracy with inconclusive elections- Fayose

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekit State has expressed worry over inability

of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct
credible and conclusive elections since the advent of the
President Muhammadu Buhari led All Progressives Congress (APC)
government.
The governor, who reacted to the alleged manipulation of the Imo North
Senatorial election, which was declared inconclusive, said "democracy in
Nigeria is being threatened by INEC and this should call for
national and international reflection."
Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communications and New
Media, Lere Olayinka quoted the governor as saying that, “If we have done
more than 15 elections since President Buhari assumed office and
all ended inconclusive, it is obvious that we are tending towards anarchy.
"It is becoming very clear that votes of Nigerians are no longer allowed to
count under this APC government and one wonders if President Buhari
would have been elected if the system then did not allow free and fair
elections."
Governor Fayose said Nigerians should be more concerned with
institutionalising democracy than the issue of who wins election, adding
that, "The only duty the APC government owes Nigerians is to allow for a
system that will make them to be able to elect their leaders freely.
"This system was created and allowed to flourish by the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) government. The APC, which is obviously
desperate to hijack power at all levels through open manipulation of the
electoral process must know that preventing people's votes from counting
is a clear invitation to anarchy.
"As it is, APC stalwarts are using security agents to unleash violence on
Nigerians during elections because they know that the president won’t lift
a finger provided his party members are the ones perpetrating electoral
evil."
The governor said the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu should be
worried about the image of the electoral commission under him.
While urging INEC to be mindful of its importance to the sustenance of
democracy in Nigeria, Governor Fayose said the electoral body must
maintain its independence and impartiality at all times.
"Nigeria was already getting that important aspect of democracy, which is
election right before the advent of this APC government and the
government, especially INEC should be mindful of what history will present
concerning them," said Fayose.
Vanguard