Ekiti 2018:Conduct credible election,Rights’ Advocate tells INEC
….Urges actors to abide by the lay down rules
A rights’ advocate,Prince Tajudeen Oyedeji has urged the authority of
the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to conduct
credible and generally acceptable governorship election slated for
July 14th this year in Ekiti State,saying that conduct of credible
election was the bedrock of good governance in any democratic society.
Prince Oyedeji also maintained that the electoral umpire and other
players should conduct themselves in a manner that would not hinder
the progress of free,fair and transparent election in the
State,maintaining that Ekiti and later Osun State guber elections
would be the litmus test for the Yakubu Mahmood led-INEC for the 2019
general elections.
According to him,through a Press statement made available to newsmen
on Thursday,he disclosed that the call became imperative as all eyes
were on Nigeria democracy under the present leader and former Military
junta,President Muhammadu Buhari,urging the opposition in the country
to be constructive in their criticisms of the present administration.
Oyedeji who is Executive Director,Centre for Good Governance and
Rights Advocacy (CENGGRA) called on the political actors in Ekiti
State to abide by the rules of the election by playing the game
according to the lay down laws and regulations as enshrined in the
1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria(as amended) and
Electoral act in order to have peaceful atmosphere before,during and
after the guber election in the State.
His words: “The electoral process is one of the bulwarks of democracy
with voters as major stakeholder in the process. This is because, if
the people lose confidence in the process, democracy as a system of
populace participation in government will become a sham.The aim of an
electoral process should be free, fair and devoid of any form of
intimidation where the the candidate with highest votes wins.
“However, the voters must know their rights and roles in making the
electoral process credible. Knowing rights is not enough without a
corresponding support from the governmental agencies that will ensure
the preservation and protection of such rights especially during the
electoral process.
“Voting is a vital mechanism of election and electoral process, and it
is the fundamental civic right of citizens, and this right is granted
through the principle of universal adult suffrage as contained in the
Article 21 of the United Nations Charter on Human Rights which was
also corroborated by the Nigerian constitution.
“It is on the basis of this, that our organization, Centre for Good
Governance and Rights Advocacy (CENGGRA), having considered the
electoral history in Nigeria and that of the 2014 gubernatorial
election in Ekiti State in particular, call on the people of Ekiti
State to participate actively in the governorship election in the
State, and also call on the participating political parties to play
the game in accordance with the rules and tenents of democracy and
respect the will of the people.
“We strongly warn the security apparatus to steer clear of any act
that can jeopardize the smooth conduct of the process. The call for
the militarization of the State as a revenge for the 2014 act of
intimidation perpetrated by the then ruling partly is condemnable,
capable of jeopardizing the process and miles backward to the
attainment of civilized society.
“It is our candid belief that, a free, fair and credible election lays
a foundation for good governance and good governance is achieved when
rights of all are respected”.
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