Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has declared that he has no confidence in the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
Obasanjo spoke in relation to the 2019 general elections, which kicks off on February 16.
In a public letter released on Sunday, the elder statesman said, “I personally have serious doubt about the present INEC’s integrity, impartiality and competence to conduct a fair, free and credible election. “
Taking a swipe at the ruling All Progressives Congress, in particular, berating the APC for what he describes as “inconclusive” Osun State governorship election, Obasanjo said, “And if the INEC is willing, will the ruling party and government allow it?”
Answering, he noted, “From what we saw and knew about Osun State gubernatorial election, what was conclusive was declared inconclusive despite all advice to the contrary.”
Fearing that the Osun election might as well be a litmus test that the electoral umpire failed, Obasanjo lamented that the “unnecessary rerun” elections (in Osun), if viewed as a test-run for a larger general election, would lead people to expect incidences of deliberately contrived, broken or non-working voting machines or card readers, confusion of voters as to their voting stations, inadequate supply of voting materials to designated places, long line to discourage voters and turning blind eyes to favour the blue-eye political party of INEC because the Commission’s hands will be tied to enable hatchet men and women to perform their unwholesome assignment.
“The transmission and collation of results are subject to interference, manipulation and meddling. If the INEC’s favourite political party wins with all the above infractions, the result will be conclusively declared and if not, there will be a ‘rerun’, the result of which is known before it is carried out. I know that I am not alone in being sceptical about the integrity of INEC and its ability to act creditably and above board. But we are open to be convinced otherwise.”
Continuing, Obasanjo said, “The joke about INEC would seem real. The INEC was asked if the Commission was ready for the election and if it expects the election to be free, fair and credible.
“The INEC man is reported as saying in response, “we are ready with everything including the results!” God save Nigeria! It is up to Nigerians to ensure that the redline is not crossed in safeguarding our fledging democracy. And if crossed, appropriate action must be taken not to allow our democracy to be derailed.
“A friend of mine who is more credulous and who claims to be close to the Chair of INEC keeps telling me that INEC will retrieve its image and reputation by conducting the coming elections with utmost integrity and impartiality.
“I am not sure as I believe more in action than in words and in past record than in promise. The track record of the present INEC is fairly sordid and all men and women of goodwill and believers in democracy must be prepared for the worst from INEC and their encouragers and how to get Nigeria out of the electoral morass that the Commission is driving us into.”
Giving an ominous warning, Obasanjo said to INEC and the ruling APC, “To be forewarned is to be forearmed. A battle long forewarned does not embroil the cripple nor catch him unawares.
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