AS
the 2015 general elections linger, a civil society group, Move on
Nigeria, has asked the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, to resign over allegations
that he is being partial and having an affiliation with a political
party. The group also said that Jega has failed in the distribution of
JEGA-INECthe Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, which is one of the major
materials for the election.
Addressing newsmen in Ikeja, the National Coordinator of Move on
Nigeria, Mr. Clem Aguiyi, urged Jega to allow Nigerians vote with their
Temporary Voter Cards, TVC’s if the PVCs are not available.
His words: “The reason for the poll postponement as advised by the
National Security Adviser at Chatham House, London, on the 15th of
January, is that INEC’s attempt to disenfranchise 23 million Nigerians,
something that has never happened before in the history of this country,
is a security risk.
The National Security Adviser was concerned that such an unprecedented
disenfranchisement could lead to an avoidable civil strife which our
armed forces would have to deal with at a time when the army should be
focused on the current war against insurgents. The major issue is that
INEC has failed Nigerians in the distribution of PVCs and seeks to
blindfold millions of Nigerians whose right to vote he seeks to
truncate.
“We make bold to say that the INEC chairman is playing poker with the
distribution of PVCs. He has decided to help the opposition party, All
Progressives Congress, APC, rig the election by depriving parts of the
country that would traditionally vote for Jonathan of their cards while
the part of the country that would traditionally vote for Buhari are
armed with the cards.
He should give people their PVCs and if that is not available, he should
make provision for people to vote with their TVCs. In 2011, Jega
conducted a free, fair and credible election with the TVCs. I don’t know
why he chose to waste the country’s money on PVC’s which can lead to
anarchy if not controlled.” Jega is an honourable man and he should
honourably resign if he is not ready to conduct a free, fair and
credible elections. The President has made every effort to ensure that
every voter’s vote counts but the question now is, how independent is
INEC?”
Polls shift: Group tells Jega to resign
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Oleh
healthandwealth
