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Olanrewaju Lawal
National
Chairman of Independent National Electoral Committee (INEC), Prof. Atttairu
Jega has said that the electoral body would not recognize any wrong faction
of the APGA but the only one that has a constitutional backing.
Prof Jega who
made this clearance in Ilorin during the conference of INEC and State
Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) noted that the party has been
advised to toe the path of legitimacy.
In INEC, we do
not recognize factions. We recognize legitimacy; properly and legally
recognized registered political parties. And we have already communicated
that to the party so I do not want to start mentioning names or so. As far
as we are concerned, we have looked at the quarrels and we have advised
those that we know that are wrong to go and look at their constitution and
take appropriate measures.
We want to know who you are dealing with? We
deal with the one that is properly registered under the law.
The INEC boss
added that the electoral umpire was partnering with other stakeholders in
the country to ensure that the nation democracy was consolidated.
In order to
keep on improving on the electoral process, it is important that we develop
partnerships and relationships with all the statutory election monitoring
bodies. In Nigeria, in addition to INEC, there are also the state
independent electoral commissions. And these are mandated to organize local
government elections. It is very important for the consolidation of
democracy in Nigeria to have democratically elected government.
And we need to
share experiences and ideas together in order to continue to improve the
conduct of elections in Nigeria from the local government to the national
level. This is an excellent platform for all of us to put our heads
together to learn from each other and to continue to improve on the electoral
process in this country.
The
state chairman of Anambra SIEC, Prof. E.C. Onukaugu also in an interview
with journalists noted that the major reason Anambra has not been able to
conduct local government election in the past was due to series of
political crisis in the state.
There
are a lot of issues involved why LG elections had not taken place in
Anambra state. In 2004, the then Governor, Ngige wanted to conduct
election, there was three days mayhem. Peter Obi, came on board, hee wanted
to conduct the election, they impeached him. He came back, there was election
which he was excluded from contesting.
He
went to court and recovered his mandate. He wanted to have the election and
we were prepared in 2010, the materials were ready. Conference of Nigeria’s
Political Parties, went to court that we should not use the flawed register
used by (Prof.) Maurice Iwu that we should wait till a new register comes
out.
By
then some of the materials for the election were already procured. So we
had to wait. After that we were on course to do the election again, then
there was a problem. The then Chairman, Prof. Titus Eze was removed. I was
asked to handle the leadership.
We
were getting ready but unfortunately we have four court cases. Somebody
went to court protesting that nobody should be appointed chairman and
elections should not hold till the cases is disposed and other cases too
disposed.
We
do not want to commit contempt of court to fix election. But I want to tell
you that the governor has adequately funded us. If you come to our office,
we have procured nearly all the materials except the sensitive ones.
The
INEC Chairman has provided everything for us. When the court resolves the
issues or if God willing there is out of court settlements, definitely you
will have one of the freest elections in Nigeria conducted by Anambra State
Independent Electoral Commission.
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