Tuesday, 19 November 2013
The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), a civil society organisation has said the flaws which happened in the November 16 Anambra State gubernatorial election would reduce public confidence in the nation’s electoral process, if not addressed.
TMG in a statement Tuesday by its Chairman, Ibrahim Zikirullahi noted that the shortcomings must be addressed ahead of the 2015 general election.
According to him, for 2015 elections to be credible, Independent National Electoral Commission INEC must work in partnership with political parties, civic organisations and government bodies to find practical solutions to the problems.
Zikirullahi who expressed confidence in the collation process by INEC in the election, maintained that the INEC collation was done properly and that the official results as announced by INEC on Monday 18th November accurately reflected the votes cast.
According to him, TMG, through the Quick Count methodology allows for the independent verification of the official results as announced by INEC.
"Based on the Quick Count methodology, the TMG can confidently verify that the collation process was done properly and the official results as announced by INEC on November 18, accurately reflect the votes cast on the Election Day at the polling stations which held elections," he said.
TMG however did not ascertain whether the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chris Ngige or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Tony Nwoye, came second in the election.
TMG however did not ascertain whether the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chris Ngige or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Tony Nwoye, came second in the election.
"The official result for Labour Party's is 8.7 per cent which falls within the TMG estimated range. TMG cannot definitely indicate if APC or PDP is currently second in place. The lowest statistically possible percentage of the vote for APC is 21.4 per cent, while the highest statistically possible percentage of the vote for the PDP is 23.6 per cent. These values overlap statistically, APC and PDP are currently in a tie for second place," he added.
But yet peeved by the dismal performance of the INEC at the exercise, former Lagos State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav rtd, stated that the avalanche of complaints that trailed the conduct of the governorship election, further dimed the hope of credible elections in the country.
Tsav who spoke to journalists in Makurdi, Benue State capital, stated that the Professor Attahiru Jega-led INEC is a shame to the nation for its inability to conduct free and fair election in a state and wondered what Nigerians would pass through in 2015 with the type of people in the commission.
The retired Police Commissioner said the nation would continue to drift backward as long as greed and corruption hold sway just as he slammed President Goodluck Jonathan for aiding and encouraging corruption all facets of governance.
Speaking on the attitude of Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr Joseph Mbu, Tsav described it as unprofessional stating that the primary responsibility of a police boss in a state is to join hands with the state governor to maintain peace and order.
He frowned on the politicisation of the police and manipulation of the institution at federal level, hence, he threw his weight behind the creation of state police notwithstanding its disadvantages.
According to him, 'it is unfortunate the way police have been politicised and bastardised by those greedy politicians coupled with her majesty who Nigerians did not vote for but now rule the country, if the woman (Patience Jonathan) wants to become Rivers State governor, let her go and contest, it is only this administration we have an empress that is insulting a constituted authority'
According to him, 'it is unfortunate the way police have been politicised and bastardised by those greedy politicians coupled with her majesty who Nigerians did not vote for but now rule the country, if the woman (Patience Jonathan) wants to become Rivers State governor, let her go and contest, it is only this administration we have an empress that is insulting a constituted authority'
He urged President Jonathan to swallow his ambition in the interest of the nation.
"President Jonathan's followers are saying there would be war if he does not win in 2015. He should save us that trouble by relinquishing his ambition in the interest of the old and young people in this country," Tsav said.
"President Jonathan's followers are saying there would be war if he does not win in 2015. He should save us that trouble by relinquishing his ambition in the interest of the old and young people in this country," Tsav said.
Also slamming INEC, two democracy-inclined Non–Governmental Organizations-Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and the Transparency centre Network (TCN) have jointly asked the Chairman of the Commission (INEC)-Professor Attahiru Jega to apologize publicly to Nigerians for the apparent failure and administrative flaws that marred the November 16, 2013 governorship poll in Anambra State.
The groups also tasked the hierarchy of the electoral body to name, shame and prosecute all the electoral officials that in one way or the other colluded with reactionary political forces to undermine the transparent conduct of the bungled election which was declared inconclusive.
In a statement, Mr Emmanuel Onwubiko National coordinator of HURIWA and official of Transparency Center Network (TCN and also the National Director of Media Affairs of the HURIWA, Miss Zainab Yusuf said the failure of INEC in Anambra State is an unfortunate foretaste of what may happen in 2015 elections.
