THE unimpressive outcome of last weekend’s re-run elections in Rivers State has further fuelled the seeming crisis of confidence that had challenged the country’s electoral system and the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC. For an electoral body that is yet to achieve a success in elections since its present leadership came on board, the Rivers outing irrespective of the violent nature of the local politicians in that state, has left in its trail, questions regarding the capacity of the INEC management.

This was reflected in the mood of critical stakeholders, who  expressed fears over the commission’s capacity in the discharge of  its statutory functions.  The seeming doubt is such that observers think should not be easily dismissed especially on the weight of the assumption that future polls are already threatened.  Those who spoke to Vanguard in this respect, included a former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, Spokesperson of Afenenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, and former Spokesperson of Arewa Consultative Forum, Mr. Anthony Sani  among others.

By Dapo Akinrefon, Charles Kumolu, Gbenga Oke & Omeiza Ajayi

APC should stop putting INEC under pressure—Babatope

In his remarks, a former Minister of Transport and member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said: ‘’I think the APC must examine itself properly because they are putting INEC under pressure to do what is impossible. Wike as the governor of Rivers State is loved by his people. I don’t know why APC should put INEC under pressure to do its bidding.

“When Goodluck Jonathan was the President, he allowed INEC to conduct elections without undue pressure.  While I don’t subscribe to any form of violence, the APC should learn to accept defeat instead of putting INEC under pressure. I want to appeal to the APC to desist from pressurising INEC.”

We still have the do-or-die mentality—Odumakin

*Yinka Odumakin

On his part, National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin lamented the do-or-die mentality that exists in the polity.

Odumakin also expressed worry over the conduct of future elections in Nigeria by INEC.

He said: “I think it is a big shame for us that after Dr Goodluck Jonathan made his concession and we thought we were going to improve on that to make our system better, unfortunately, our electoral system is going back into the era of do-or-die and garrison mentality. Form Kogi to Rivers State, we have a reversal of trends that we should see in a peaceful, orderly elections.

Throwback to the 2011 elections

“This is because of the ‘we must win at all cost mentality’. We have now seen that there is a renewed effort that they must win at all cost. There is nobody who does not know that in a place like Rivers State, a party like the APC can only try.

“If PDP goes to Kano State today, it can only try, look at the lives that have been lost, look at the youth corper that has been killed, this is a throwback to the 2011 elections.  It is a big shame that in an era were we thought we should be moving forward, we are moving backward.”

Speaking further, he said: “INEC should re-assess the electoral process but the problem is that no matter the level of INEC preparedness, once politicians have this do-or-die mentality, every preparation made by INEC, will be fruitless. We are worried that if INEC cannot conduct elecions in parts of a state, how would INEC manage a national election in 2019? there is a cause for concern.”

INEC can no longer conduct free poll—Mohammed

Junaid Mohammed

In his reaction, second republic lawmaker, Dr Junaid Mohammed, said the present Independent Electoral Commission, (INEC) as being constituted cannot conduct any credible election in Rivers State or any part of the country.

According to him, the present set of personalities in INEC are so corrupt and cannot conduct any credible elections.

He said, “I don’t believe INEC is prepared for any election or as presently constituted can conduct any credible elections in Rivers state or any other place. When Professor Yakubu was appointed newly, a lot of Nigerians thought the competence was there, but that has not been proven with what we have seen so far by this INEC”

He said further, “Professor Jega himself did not do a good job before he left, even the smart card reader he introduced has failed woefully. But as far as I am concerned, INEC alone should not be blamed for the whole thing, the judiciary should also share in the blame because some of them are so corrupt and they could not prosecute electoral offenders”.

Blame politicians — Bashir, IPAC chairman

Chairman Peoples Democratic Movement PDM/Inter-Party Advisory Council IPAC, Ibrahim Bashir said: “The information from Rivers is not very clear as to what happened but I think the main problem is a security challenge created by politicians and not by INEC.

Conduct of politicians

If they (politicians) had allowed for the peaceful conduct of the elections, INEC would have played its part well. But INEC does not control the security. It has no police or army. I condemn in totality, the conduct of politicians in Rivers State which made the elections look like a war.

Unfortunately, this is not about the people of Rivers State, it is about the control of the treasury of Rivers State. I do not have a problem with INEC. I have a problem with the politicians especially those who are responsible for securing the lives of Rivers people”.

Too many things are wrong — Sanni

Also, former publicity scribe of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Elder Anthony Sanni said: “I do not really have much facts as to what transpired in Rivers but to my mind, too many things are wrong. The contending parties in Rivers State do not see elections as sports or a free and fair competition. They engaged in violence and made it difficult for INEC to conduct a free, fair and credible election. So, I am trying to find out why it is like that.”

It is so serious in that place as to ignore the sanctity of human life. They are looking for power to govern human beings and not animals, so, they should respect the sanctity of human lives. If the people are not ready for a free and fair elections, there is nothing INEC can do.”