INEC's Decisions On Kogi Election A Height Of Mischief – Wada

Source: thewillnigeria.com

SAN FRANCISCO, December 02, (THEWILL) –The Kogi State Governor, Capt. Idris Wada yesterday kicked against the decisions of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on the November 21 governorship election in the state, describing such as the height of mischief which has only succeeded in putting the nation’s democracy on trial.

Speaking through a statement issued by his Chief Communications Manager, Mr. Phrank Shuaibu, Wada, who is the flag bearer of the PDP in that election, argued that INEC should not have acted in line with the directive of the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, particularly since it is being rumored that the AGF's action is part of a grand plot by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to grab Kogi State at all costs.

While berating the decision of INEC to allow APC to substitute its candidate in the middle of an election, he asserted that such directives were null and void, owing to its inconsistency with the provisions of the constitution.

Wada further stated that INEC's decision ignores the fact that its action can denigrate the Commission – and indeed Nigeria's democracy – just because it is playing into a grand design by the ruling APC to grab Kogi State at all costs.

”There is something terribly awry in a system in which a body set up to uphold the rule of law and protect the sanctity of people's votes is the same one that has gone ahead to undermine it,” he said.

The Governor's aide maintained that the Electoral Act was clear that in view of the death of the APC's candidate, Abubakar Audu, Wada should be declared the winner of the election being the only surviving candidate with the majority of lawful votes cast in the election held on November 21.

He wondered why INEC, a body established to be the custodian of the rule of law would ignore the fundamentals of the rule of law in arriving at the decision not to issue the incumbent Kogi governor a certificate of return.

According to him, “It is disheartening, therefore, to see an Institution that is financed by the Nigerian People to assail and flagrantly treat the constitution of Nigeria with disdain as well as arrogate to itself the powers of the Court.

“The Pertinent question is: What is INEC attempting to hide? Whose interest(s) is INEC trying to protect? We assert, very strongly that it is not the desire of the Nigerian People, to whom Sovereignty belongs.”

“INEC should know that, an electoral umpire is expected to be impartial unto death. INEC is like a judge, required to do justice and be fair to all concerned. INEC is a referee, expected to apply the rules and respect the rights of all parties. INEC is the co-ordinator of an orchestra expected to ensure the best performance of the ensemble.”

Shuaibu ended by restated his faith in the courts eventually declaring Wada as duly elected and order INEC to issue him the certificate of return for the Kogi State gubernatorial polls.