Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa Elections: “INEC's Independence Evaporated”, NNPP Chieftain Speaks

• Serious questions about the integrity, capacity, and independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have been raised
• The doubts about INEC's credibility continued following the governorship elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states on Saturday, November 11
• Speaking to Legit.ng in an interview, a former Lagos state house of assembly candidate, Adekunle Aderibigbe, tasked INEC on improving the electoral process to give credibility to the process

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 6-year-experience covering politics and elections in Nigeria

Lokoja, Kogi state - Adekunle Razaq Aderibigbe, a chieftain of the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP) in Lagos state, has likened the elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states to a “tussle in the jungle”.

In an interview with Legit.ng, Aderibigbe accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of not upholding its independence.

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Off-cycle elections: Aderibigbe laments anomalies

The former Lagos state house of assembly candidate suggested a review of the 2022 Electoral Act.

He told Legit.ng:

"The last off-cycle elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa could be likened to a tussle in the jungle where the Jungle king decides and controls rather than the members in their majority.

"Democracy is meant to be a system that gives the people the power to decide who administers the social contract, but we seem to have lost that touch when Permanent Voters Card (PVC) collection is extremely low, followed by voters’ apathy.

"In the end, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could not uphold its independence by staying neutral but succumbing to influence as shown with various anomalies being reported.

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"Unfortunately, we will need to go back to the drawing board to review the 2022 Electoral Act in order to restore a reasonable level of normalcy. While this is one of needful, it is difficult to entrust this National Assembly that prioritise its official vehicular needs over the social and economic interests of the masses at these trying times with the effective amendments for subsequent equitable elections."

'Kogi, Bayelsa elections not the best': Balogun

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Tope Balogun, the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in Lagos state during the 2023 election, said the leadership of INEC ‘needs to have a deeper look into their commitment to entrenching a free and fair electioneering process’.

Speaking to Legit.ng against the backdrop of the just-concluded governorship elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states, Balogun said INEC should be committed to entrenching a free and fair electioneering process. This, he said, will “restore hope in our democratic culture of ascension to power”.

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'Accreditation data on IReV not manipulated' - INEC

Legit.ng also reported that INEC on Tuesday, November 14, refuted allegations that accreditation data on its result viewing (IReV) portal was manipulated during the Kogi governorship election.

INEC in a statement by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, national commissioner and member of the Information and Voter Education Committee, said media reports that it tampered with the accredited figures of voters in the Kogi governorship election results uploaded on the IReV portal "are unfounded".

Atiku slams INEC, sends message to NASS

In another related news, Legit.ng reported that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2023 election, held a meeting with the national executive committee of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on Tuesday, November 14.

At the meeting, Atiku, a former vice president (VP) of Nigeria, let out some of his feelings.

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Bayelsa governorship election: “Timipre Sylva has been violent in every election”, says Diri

The 76-year-old stated that despite the "flaws" of democracy, he still believes in it and is committed to working with others to preserve it.

Source: Legit.ng