The apex Igbo sociocultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo,
on Monday urged the National Assembly to enact laws that would abolish
off-cycle elections in Nigeria.
Ohanaeze lamented that off-cycle elections erode and sap the
strength of Nigeria’s democracy.
The organization made the call while expressing displeasure
over the alleged irregularities witnessed during Saturday’s off-cycle
governorship elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa States.
Condemning the outcome of the election, Ohanaeze called for
a total overhaul of the management of the Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC.
Saturday’s governorship election was marred by widespread
voter apathy, vote-buying, violence and the use of compromised and biased INEC
electoral officers by politicians to manipulate the electoral process and
declare themselves winners through fraudulent means.
Reacting, Ohanaeze lamented that the Independent National
Electoral Commission, INEC, is a weak institution that urgently needs
restructuring.
A statement by Ohanaeze’s factional Secretary-General,
Okechukwu Isiguzoro, reads: “The management team, led by Professor Yakubu
Mahmood, has failed to ensure free, fair, and credible elections across the
three states.
“We demand a complete overhaul of the management team to
restore confidence in the electoral process.
“The prevalence of irregularities such as voter apathy, vote
buying, violence, and compromised INEC staff has significantly undermined the
democratic process in off-cycle elections.
“This situation erodes the trust of the electorate and
jeopardizes the very foundation of our democracy. The National Assembly must
take immediate action by enacting new laws to end off-cycle elections, as they
continue to sap the strength of our democracy.”
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