“Probe INEC over postponement of elections”

The abrupt postponement of general elections by the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) deserves urgent and thorough probe, an Abuja-based civil society group has said. Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) claimed such sudden postponement exposed too many Nigerians and election materials to huge and unnecessary risks.

In a statement issued by CISLAC’s Executive Director, Mr. Auwal Musa Rafsanjani on Saturday, the organisation expressed concern that if allowed unhindered,  such actions may eventually cause an erosion of INEC’s independence. “CISLAC is seriously perturbed by sudden postponement of general elections by the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) few hours to the Presidential elections and National Assembly elections.

“While we express unreserved disappointment over the reported poor preparatory processes by the electoral body that disproportionately hampered adequate deployment of electoral materials to many parts of the country with resultant postponement, we condemn such abrupt decision informed by deliberate abuse of independent power that may discredit subsequent recognition of the Commission as an “Independent Body” before national and international observers.

“We are not unaware of systemic conflict of interests and questionable procurement process imbibed by the various positions in the Commission, creating tendency for mutual sabotage among the three (3) levels of appointees—National Commissioners, RECs and appointed relatives to the Directors in various Departments. We are concerned by the wastages and losses the postponement would have caused the country, civil society and international community that have committed whooping financial and human resources to deployment and observation missions to ensure free, fair and credible elections that will be acceptable to all.

“We therefore call on the National Assembly to as a matter of urgency, constitute an ad hoc Committee to investigate the sudden postponement to clear the Commission of public doubt that her decision was not informed by desperate desires of unjust individuals or groups who want to assume or sustain power by all illegitimate means, CISLAC stated. Urging citizens and other stakeholders to sustain interest in monitoring the election process, CISLAC further demand adequate security for both materials and human resources deployed by the Commission so far to the field.