Don’t boycott polls, TMG urges opposition
THE Transition Monitoring Group ( TMG) has urged leading opposition candidates including APC’s Chris Ngige, PDP’s Tony Nwoye and LP’s Patrick Uba not to boycott today’s supplementary election in Anambra State.
It urged the opposition parties to participate in the election to avail them a platform to seek remedy over their grievances.
Chairman of the group, Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi and Publicity Secretary, Chief Eddy Ezurike said yesterday in Abuja that they strongly feel the pains, disappointments and betrayals suffered by Anambra electorate. The group explained that it is not so much about INEC or its leadership, but the pervading systemic failure across the nation.
“While aggrieved political parties and their candidates may have genuine reasons to boycott the supplementary elections, the TMG would however ask them not to succumb by quitting, but to rather give in their all and fight to the end. Aggrieved political parties and candidates must not forget how the incumbent Governor of Anambra State was deprived of his electoral victory and mandate for several years, but he remained resolute and fought his case through the courts to secure his legitimate mandate.
“By the same token, we urge the aggrieved political parties and candidates to toe the same line,” TMG said.
It therefore urged INEC to ensure that all indicted or arrested electoral offenders are brought to justice to deter others and also ensure that the mistakes of the November 16 election are not repeated.