The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been urged to discharge its duty without fear or favour during the supplementary elections scheduled for Saturday, March 23, 2019. The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) made the call in a statement on Friday signed by its chairperson, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, pointing out that the commission must ensure that the mistakes inherent in the earlier conducted governorship elections in the affected states were not repeated.
TMG also called on all political parties to refrain from any actions that wouldl further overheat the polity or jeopardize the exercise.
Full statement below:
“The public has continued to evaluate the March 9, 2019 State Gubernatorial Elections in Nigeria, which were declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following irregularities and significant incidents of violence in the affected states, actions which necessitated cancellations of some of the results by the commission.
“As a result, supplementary elections in the affected states have been scheduled by INEC for Saturday, March 23, 2019. This was done in line with the decision of the commission as laid down in Sections 26 and 53 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections.
“While the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) noted the obvious issues and documented irregularities observed during the last governorship elections and the criticisms that followed across the country, we expect that INEC would discharge its duty without fear or favor during the supplementary elections. INEC must ensure that the mistakes inherent in the earlier conducted governorship elections in the affected states are not repeated as we also call on all political parties to refrain from any actions that will further overheat the polity or jeopardize the exercise. The only way to preclude electoral irregularities is for all stakeholders to synergize and together keep an eye of the entire process.
“Security agencies, particularly the police must be reminded that their ultimate responsibility and loyalty is to the people; therefore, they must conduct themselves in a manner that will not in any way compromise the sanctity of the elections. As people, we must understand that nothing can be achieved in an atmosphere of violence and lawlessness; we must all work together to prevent any future violence.
“ However, INEC and the police must ensure that all indicted or arrested Electoral Offenders in the last exercise are brought to justice to ensure deterrence. As a matter of urgency, TMG strictly recommends to the commission as it prepares for the supplementary elections the following:
1. That its personnel indicted of any wrongdoing in the last elections are not included in the supplementary elections
2. That materials are delivered on time to the affected Polling Units
3. That Voters are accredited and allowed to vote on time with due regards to the allotted start-time of voting
4. That voters with genuine Permanent Voter Card (PVC) are not denied in the process
5. No willful disenfranchisement of duly registered Voters
“We call on Nigerians to come out en mass to exercise their franchise, protect their mandate as doing so will only guarantee good governance and service delivery from the government.
“Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria as we anticipate credible, free and fair supplementary elections!
Signed:
Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi
Chairperson, TMG
