The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has expressed a lack of confidence in the independence of Independent National Electoral Commission, stating that it is “very uncomfortable about the way that the electoral body has become a lackey” of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). “This trend, if not checked immediately, is capable of turning our elections to otiose and inconsequential exercises,” the party said in a statement today.
The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has expressed a lack of confidence in the independence of Independent National Electoral Commission, stating that it is “very uncomfortable about the way that the electoral body has become a lackey” of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). “This trend, if not checked immediately, is capable of turning our elections to otiose and inconsequential exercises,” the party said in a statement today.
Below is the full text of the statement:
The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has noted with uneasiness the continuing story of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a biased electoral umpire, and by extension, an appendage of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
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The landmark judgment of the Supreme Court of 27th January, 2012 was unambiguous about the expiration of the tenure of the governors of Adamawa, Bayelsa, Cross-River, Kogi and Sokoto states. As direct consequence of this Judgment, the Speakers of House of Assembly for respective states were to be sworn in and fresh elections held within ninety days. With characteristic show of executive rascality and despicable indiscretion, the PDP-led government in Kogi state caused Captain Idris Wada, the PDP candidate elected in the governorship election of 3rd December, 2011, to be sworn in as governor.
INEC strayed from its constitutional role as an electoral umpire and assumed the function of the Judiciary by advising on the oath of office to be administered on Captain Idris Wada as governor of Kogi state. Prior to the Supreme Court Judgment, INEC, (in collaboration with the Political Parties), had brought out the schedule for the Gubernatorial elections in the five states as shown below:
S/N- STATE DATE OF ELECTION
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1. KOGI 3RD DECEMBER, 2011.
2. ADAMAWA 14TH JANUARY, 2012.
3. BAYELSA 11TH FEBRUARY, 2012.
4. SOKOTO 14TH MARCH, 2012.
5. CROSS-RIVER 14TH APRIL, 2012.
Upon the Supreme Court’s Judgment which unsettled the ruling PDP’s invidious electoral schemes for these states, INEC changed the time-table totally without conferring with the political states. Undoubtedly, the decision by INEC to conduct four governorship elections in the month of February is baseless and unmindful of the logistic implications for the political parties. Furthermore, the previously scheduled 14th April, 2012 for Cross-river state (being the last in the series) is still within the 90-day window allowed by the extant statute! It is evident that since INEC has been structured to pander to the whims and caprices of the ruling PDP, these dates have to be changed. As a Party, we are not confident of the independence of INEC anymore and are very uncomfortable about the way that the electoral body has become a lackey of the PDP.
This trend, if not checked immediately, is capable of turning our elections to otiose and inconsequential exercises.
God bless Nigeria.
Rotimi Fashakin.(Engr.)
National Publicity Secretary, CPC.
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