Group Warns, Call For Mitigation of Electoral Malpractices During Bayelsa Bye Elections
…Coalition to set up situation room
By Lazarus Zakaa, Abuja.
The Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizen Awareness has called on all stakeholders in the electoral process to ensure that electoral malpractices are brought to the barest level in the upcoming bye elections in Bayelsa Central and Bayelsa West senatorial districts.
Addressing a media conference in Abuja, the Director General of the Centre, Dr. Gabriel Nwambu who drew lessons from the just concluded Edo State Governorship Election said, the outcome was commendable.
According to Dr. Nwambu, to a majority of persons, the 19th September Governorship election in Edo state was the best major election ever conducted by the Professor Mahmood Yakubu,s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He emphasize that while some other school of thought have argued that the election is an off season election, so INEC had no excuse not to have performed optimally. But the fact still remains that for some of us who are consistent with election observation in Nigeria, we would rather differ, because we have had several off season elections that were below standard.
“From the INEC ad-hoc staff to the Nigerian police who in some instances were seen clearly shooting to scare electorates and eventually, cat away the ballot boxes, result sheets, and other electoral sensitive materials including the Form EC8A series. These obnoxious trends were seen in the November, 2019 Governorship elections in both Bayelsa and Kogi states respectively.
“On the 31st of October, 2020, the Bayelsa West and Bayelsa Central Senatorial district bye elections would hold. This is another litmus test to access the sustainability of notable improvements recorded in Edo state with performance index on the Nigerian Police, all other law enforcement agencies and indeed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“For intending perpetrators of electoral related violence, we wish to sound a note of warning that our coalition is setting up a situation room where perpetrators and their sponsors would be noted and reported to world embassies for VISA sanction for them and their respective families. We would also ensure that persons face the full wrath of the Law.
“Lastly, we wish to commend the Independent National Electoral Commission who has demonstrated by the Edo example and the online posting of the Unit results (Form EC8A), the resolute determination to remain unbiased in the conduct of transparent, free fair and credible elections as this would help Nigerians monitor the election results online and real time”, Dr. Nwambu stated.
