Segun Aina/
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed serious doubt over the impartiality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in this year’s general elections.
This was contained in a 16-page address, titled, Points for concern and action, released by the former president today at his residence in Abeokuta
Obasanjo also accused President Muhammadu Buhari of returning Nigeria to the era of the late former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.
He described officials of INEC as people of no integrity, adding that he felt compelled to speak out because of the emerging dangerous trend ahead of the general elections.
Obasanjo said: “I am concerned as a democrat who believes that with faithful and diligent practice of democracy, we can overcome most of our political problems and move steadfastly and surefootedly on the course of stability, unity of purpose, socio-economic growth and progress for all.”
“Democracy becomes a sham if elections are carried out by people who should be impartial and neutral umpires, but who show no integrity, acting with blatant partiality, duplicity and imbecility.
“For all Democrats and those carrying out the process of elections, there must be the red line that must not be crossed in tactics and practices of democracy.
“I personally have serious doubt about the present INEC’s integrity, impartiality and competence to conduct a fair, free and credible election.”
He also faulted INEC on its performance during the governorship election in Osun State last year, describing the rerun election as unnecessary.
He stated: “From what we saw and knew about Osun State gubernatorial election, what was conclusive was declared inconclusive despite all advice to the contrary.
“The unnecessary rerun, 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.”
Likening Buhari to Abacha, the former president said: “Today, another Abacha Era is here. The security institutions are being misused to fight all critics and opponents of Buhari and to derail our fledgling democracy.
“EFCC, Police, and Code of Conduct Tribunal are also being equally misused to deal with those Buhari sees as enemies for criticising him or as those who may not do his bidding in manipulating to election results.”
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