The former acting National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has asked the government to sack the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as presently constituted, saying that it cannot conduct unbiased election in 2019.
Prince Secondus who was reacting to the Thursday’s release of timetable for the 2019 general election, said in a statement in Abuja that Nigerians need no further proof to establish that the Electoral body is designed to do the bidding of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) all the way.
According to the former PDP boss, the commission has shown enormous arrogance and lack of democratic principles in its affairs in rushing to release the timetable for the election that is 24 months away, when it has many urgent and unfinished matters before it.
“It is curious that an electoral commission that is yet to be properly constituted and has before it many unfinished matters including voter education and enlightenment had to rush out date for 2019 general election in full disregard of rule guiding it.
“As we speak, Anambra state gubernatorial election is due later this year and the state has no Resident Electoral Commissioner REC to carry out all the needful as enshrined in the constitution before the election
“Since last year, Nigerian Senate had raised alarm over the implication of non constitution of INEC but while the National Commissioners are filled, over 30 seats of Resident Electoral Commissioners remain vacant.”
Secondus said that statutorily, the President has the responsibility to appoint the RECs, subject to the confirmation of the Senate in line with Section 153 of the 1999 constitution as amended, Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution, which established INEC; and Section 14(1) and (2) of the Third Schedule, which established the office of the National Chairman of INEC, the 12 National Commissioners as well as the RECs.
“Is it not curious therefore that INEC that is rushing to release 2019 timetable operates currently without RECs in the following states, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Edo, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Plateau, Nasarawa, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara.
According to Secondus, INEC in its determination to carry out an APC designed agenda rolled out the timetable without carrying out the necessary due diligent that includes adequate consultations with critical stakeholders like the political parties and civil society groups whose input is always sought and accommodated before the final decisions are taken.
Prince Secondus then described as worrisome the character exhibited by the electoral body since Prof Mahmood Yakubu took over the leadership of the commission and doubt his ability to conduct free fair and credible poll.
“From Kogi, to Bayelsa, Imo to Edo and Rivers states this commission under the watch of the current Chairman has failed to establish itself and engender the people’s confidence that it would be able to conduct unbiased election.
“If it is not inconclusive election, hacked website, it’s result falsification and result padding in connivance with the ruling APC.”
Secondus then charged Nigerians especially critical stakeholders in the nation’s democracy project to view the rush by INEC to release 2019 as an action pregnant with agenda set out to Favour the ruling APC.
He then suggested the dissolution of the present commission and its reconstitution with men and women of integrity as a measure to save this democracy from the APC desperation. [myad]
