Rights group demands reshuffle of RECs to prevent rigging
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED) has demanded a reshuffle of Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) before the governorship and state Assembly elections on 11 March to prevent rigging.
A statement issued by CHRICED Executive Director Ibrahim Zikirullahi said before the election this year it had identified Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) state offices as weak links.
“One of the weak links in the logistic chain is the RECs in the states. In the build up to the elections, CHRICED had identified the INEC state offices as weak links in the conduct of the elections.
“We have always known that while the INEC leadership in Abuja may have put in place effective plans, those plans are usually undermined by the state offices,” Zikirullahi said.
“INEC state offices run by their RECs must be held accountable for the dismal performance of the Commission. In the lead-up to the elections, CHRICED called for a reorganisation/reshuffling of the RECs to ensure that their actions or inactions do not undermine the integrity of the elections.”
________________________________________________________________
Related articles:
Atiku escalates calls for INEC to remove Lagos REC Agbaje over Tinubu bias
INEC declares Tinubu presidential election winner amid legal questions
Go to court, Buhari tells opposers of Tinubu’s victory
__________________________________________________________________
Prosecute election thugs and sponsors
“Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for March 11, 2023. CHRICED urges INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to immediately reshuffle the RECs, particularly in states that experienced the most logistical and procedural lapses during the presidential and National Assembly elections,” the statement added, via reporting by The Guardian.
“CHRICED similarly calls on stakeholders in the electoral process to beam the spotlight on respective RECs to ensure they are also accountable for administrative issues, which affect the electoral process in their respective states.
“In the area of election security, CHRICED calls on the police to thoroughly investigate and bring to justice all the criminal elements who were involved in the incidents which marred elections in Edo, Lagos, Rivers and any other state in the country.
“It is important also that security agencies apprehend not only the thugs, but those who sponsored them to undermine the electoral process and the sanctity of the ballot.”