The All progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday called for immediate restructuring of the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC), saying it might be compelled to boycott future elections if the restructuring is not done.
According to a statement issued by APC Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, the party has lost confidence in the INEC personnel and the current voters’ register, claiming it has been tampered with.
“There is no doubt that our party has totally lost confidence in the ability and capability of INEC to organize a free, fair and transparent election anywhere in Nigeria.
“We have no iota of confidence in INEC’s personnel and the commission’s voters’ register, which we believe has been irredeemably tampered with to such an extent that it can no longer be relied upon for any election.
“We will be forced to take a decision not to participate in any future election until there is a far-reaching restructuring of INEC that will see a purge of the bad eggs in the commission, a re-orientation of the remaining staffers and the compilation of a new and credible voters’ register.
“The restructuring of INEC and the compilation of a new voters’ register are the barest minimum requirements for Nigeria’s return to the path of electoral chastity,” Akande stated.
The opposition party again, catalogued the lapses noticed in the November 16 governorship election in Anambra state, saying “for the umpteenth time that there were serious irregularities and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended”.
Akande blamed the Presidency and the ruling party of deliberate plot to humiliate his party and “portray us as lacking in electoral value. That is why an unconscionable PDP spokesman raced to the media to hail the ill-fated election to the high heavens, even when the PDP candidate and some members of his family were among the thousands who were disenfranchised and marooned”.
He therefore, warned that urgent action must be taken to contain electoral impunity, adding “As things stand, we have a dangerous admixture of Power and Impunity, and the end product cannot but be explosive.
“Make no mistake about it: If something drastic but lawful is not done now to stop this electoral impunity, our country is ultimately heading for the precipice. This is not about crying wolf where none exists. The wolf is here and ready to pounce.
”Our challenge is to stop it before it is too late”.
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