It's a summersault - CSO
Alliance for Defence of Democracy and Justice has said what it described as inconsistent decisions taken by the INEC in the last one week over the governorship election in Bauchi State is worrisome and capable of staining its credibility.
INEC on Friday night formally set aside the cancellation of results of gubernatorial election in Tafawa Balewa Local Government in the state.
The electoral body also approved Tuesday, March 19 for continuation of the collation in Tafawa Balewa LGA and correction of some errors in Ningi LGA before the final announcement of the winner.
Governor Mohammed Abubakar of the APC and Bala Mohammed of the PDP are the two major contenders in the polls. The APC Victory Forum (AVF), a forum operating under the auspice of the APC Broom Platform, has scheduled a twoday programme that seeks to project the potential of the party, featuring four main agenda, which will include pictorial exhibition of the party’s projects, both at the federal and state levels.
The AVF National Cocoordinator, Dr Tom Ohikere, who spoke in Abuja over the weekend on the plan at the inaugural meeting of the forum, said the event would also feature national commendation/awards of key personalities within the APC who have been instrumental in building and facilitating the party into what it is today.
Dr Ohikere, a two-time commissioner of Information in Kogi State, said there will also be the unveiling of a compendium of all APC victorious candidates at the 2019 general elections and
A statement by the civil society organisation’s national convener, Muntaqa Mudassir and communication director, Istifanus Sarki, voiced worry over the inconsistent decisions INEC took within one week.
They said the “electoral body’s inconsistency is capable of eroding its independence, impartially and credibility before the eyes of Nigerians, and Bauchi people in particular.”
“We hold INEC in high esteem. But the event in the last one week in Bauchi State is giving us a source of concern. The INEC decision to declare the governorship elections inconclusive, to fixing a date for supplementary elections and now setting aside its two decisions is questionable and capable of eroding the remaining confidence Nigerians have on the electoral umpire,” the statement said. a democracy lecture titled ‘APC and the Destiny of the Nigerian Nation’.
He said the forum seeks to bring together and create synergy between key individuals and groups within the party to facilitate the efforts to celebrate the achievements of the APC in the last four years.
He said the recent victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the polls, the APC’s absolute control of the next National Assembly, and the impressive performance at the gubernatorial and state assembly levels were a referendum on the performance of the APC so far by the Nigerian people.
Dr Ohikere stated that the success was also an attestation of the veritable role of Broom Platform, a support group of the ruling All Progressives Congress, in relaying the message of the party to the public and in generating the desired perception for APC contestants particularly Mr President.