Banji Okunomo, Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo, has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to review some of its rules and regulations in the interest of Nigeria’s democracy.
Okunomo, who gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Okitipupa, described the electoral body’s declaration of elections “inconclusive” as an aberration to democratic process in the country.
According to him, the issue of elections being inconclusive, if not properly handled, is capable of igniting protests that can lead to chaos, anarchy, and disruption of the democratic process.
“The inconclusiveness of elections across the country is generating a lot of reactions even in Ondo South here, before it was later declared after re-run elections, which our party won.
“INEC must at all times show itself as an independent electoral umpire, through its conduct of peaceful and credible polls, devoid of sentiments and partisanship,” he said.
The scribe urged INEC to address the issue of vote buying, which he described as an aberration in the country’s democratic process.
He alleged that the House of Assembly election in the state was highly monetised.
“Last Saturday’s State House of Assembly election in the state was highly monetised and marred by mass vote buying, which is not good for our democracy.
“INEC needs to do a lot of work on vote buying in subsequent elections for the votes of the masses to really count,” he said.
