Youths protest in Abuja against INEC, ask body to redeem its image
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Youths massed in Abuja on Tuesday to protest against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for having violated the law the way it conducted both the federal and state elections, which gave room for rigging and false results.
The protesters, who dressed in black attire held placards, took over the Unity Fountain to express their anger.
The placards had inscriptions such as “We stand for Justice, we fight for a new Nigeria,” “President Buhari keep your promise,” “Democracy not INECcracy” who owns Nigeria? The people.’”
The youths urged President Muhammadu Buhari to save Nigeria from collapse.
Convener of the demonstration, Moses Ogidi Paul of Yell-Out Nigeria, decried the failure of the INEC in the elections and stressed that it is not too late for the electoral umpire to redeem its dented image, according to reporting by Daily Post.
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TMG counsels INEC to redeem its battered image with gov vote
The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) had urged the INEC to use the state elections as a good opportunity to claw back its image battered by the federal elections.
TMG Chairman Auwal Rafsanjani counselled the INEC to ensure smooth distribution of election materials, use Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, and immediately upload results on the iReV portal from polling units.
“Once again, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is promising a smooth electioneering process.
“INEC has been granted judicial leeway to reconfigure the … BVAS device, and promised to use the device judiciously to deliver its mandate having learnt from the shortcomings of the 25th February 2023 elections,” Rafsanjani said in a statement.
“INEC is also promising to ensure that the INEC Result Viewing (iReV) portal will deliver real time results.
“Moreover, it has noted the hiccups associated with the distribution of electoral materials on the day of the election and promised that the gubernatorial and State Assemblies’ elections will be a different ball game.
“While TMG commends these promises, it urges INEC to live up to its words this time around as TMG maintains that its performance in this regard in the Presidential Election was abysmal.
“TMG believes that delayed commencement of voting as a result of the late arrival of INEC officials and incomplete setting up of polling units should not be part of the 18th March 2023 story.
“Furthermore, the display of ballot papers by highly placed individuals as seen in the last elections should be discouraged.”
Need to punish electoral offenders
TMG urged security agencies to work with the INEC to ensure security issues in the February 25 election did not recur, and security agencies to be more effective in discharging their duties.
It also implored Nigerians to come out and vote, the INEC to adhere strictly to the Electoral Act, and ensure electoral offenders are punished in line with the law.
“As an aftermath of the 25th February 2023 election, TMG is observing different actions, comments and inactions of those directly or indirectly involved in the elections such as political parties, their candidates and their supporters.
“In some states, citizens are being threatened on their perceived choice to exercise their franchise overtly and covertly.
“In states such as Lagos, Abia, Bauchi, Kano and Rivers for instance, citizens are being threatened, intimidated and harassed on the perception of supporting political opponents.
“Therefore, security agencies are urged to up their game and support INEC, election observers and other law-abiding citizens to ensure that hoodlums and political thugs do not have their way to disenfranchise citizens.”
TMG commended the “professionalism displayed by the security agencies” in the presidential election and urged security agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission officials, to double their efforts at maintaining peace and in reducing the incidence of vote trading.
“The Transition Monitoring Group continues to commend the enthusiasm demonstrated by the Nigerian citizens and commend their good conduct and orderly behaviour in the 25th February 2023 elections.
“TMG has carried out sensitisation and awareness creation rallies in the states urging the electorate to shun apathy and come out again en masse to cast and defend their votes through all legal and peaceful means.
“There must be strict adherence to the Electoral Act 2022 by everyone involved in the electioneering process.
“Electoral offenders of any kind must be punished under the laws of the country to dissuade others from perpetrating electoral offences in Nigeria.”