We Won’t Accept Any Excuse For Inconclusive Election In Edo – Civil Society Warns Inec

BEVERLY HILLS, AUGUST 24, (THEWILL) – A civil society group, Alliance for Credible Election, ACE-Nigeria, has charged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to ensure that the conduct of the September 10, 2016 governorship election in Edo State was conclusive.

The acting General-Secretary of ACE-Nigeria, Mma Odi, who made the call on Wednesday while addressing newsmen in Abuja, warned that Nigerians will no longer accept excuses from the electoral umpire to conduct another inconclusive election.

She expressed concern over what has become a trend under the present INEC leadership, Nigerians expected INEC to improve on the huge success recorded by the immediate past Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega in the conduct of the 2011 and 2015 general elections, but the reverse has been the case.

Odi rejected the position of INEC to the extent that electoral violence and malpractice instigated by the political class were responsible for the recent spate of inconclusive elections conducted by the commission.

She insisted that the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo States should not be subjected to further controversies of inconclusive elections, adding that: “The same politicians were there when the 2011 and 2015 elections were conducted.”

Her words, “INEC should do everything within its powers to ensure that it doesn't conduct inconclusive elections in Edo and On do states governorship elections.

“Nigerians expected the new leadership of INEC and the current government to improve on the gains made by Professor Jega the immediate past Chairman of INEC and former President Goodluck Jonathan's administration towards free, fair popular and credible elections in Nigeria.

“But sadly, the signals coming from INEC and government of then day in the area of inconclusive elections; non constitution of the INEC Board, the disputed election that took place in Imo North senatorial election re-run election and the postponement of Rivers State re-run senatorial are worrisome.”

ACE-Nigeria further called for immediate review of the 2010 and 2015 Electoral Act and the Constitution to remove the appointment of the chairman of INEC and commissioners from the executive arms of government.