Two civil society organisations have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to always conduct free and fair elections to reduce the chances of litigation by political parties.
The CSOs; the International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights, and the Rivers State Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, explained that in a democratic setting, the people should determine who would govern them, adding that the responsibility of choosing leaders should not be left to the court.
Chancellor of the International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights, Jackson Omenazu, faulted the practice of the Supreme Court deciding electoral victory in the country, adding that citizens should be the ones to choose their leaders through the ballot.
Omenazu, who stated this on Thursday, during an interview with Saturday PUNCH, noted that the INEC had compromised with the political elite.
He said, “Most of the time, this culture of winning first and going to court is a criminal intention. We must discourage electoral brigandage of any type. The decision and the will of the people at the polling units and the reverence for the ballot box should be our utmost concern as citizens, not the Supreme Court.
“I cannot imagine where two million, 500,000 or 1.2 million people will take a decision, and at the end of the day, the electoral outcome will rest on the decision of eight persons or five at the Supreme Court.
“They are not the ballot box holders; let’s call a spade a spade. Let the will of the people as articulated in the ballot box be the final arbiter. However, the corruption in INEC is glaring and smelly. That’s why INEC officials go cap in hand begging politicians for patronage. We are aware of this.”
Also speaking with our correspondent, the Chairman, Rivers State Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, Enefaa Georgewill, urged INEC to push for better reforms to ensure smooth electoral processes.
