Pressure group in Ogun state has made a potent call to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to safeguard Nigeria Democracy in the state, following the anormallies in the just concluded govenrorship election.
This call was made in Abeokuta on Tuesday by the leadership of the PDP New Generation group through its spokesperson, Mr Ajibade Adesola, stressing that the action of the INEC’s state Returning Officer, Prof. Kayode Adebowale and Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI) at the state Collation Centre was capable of causing chaos and endangering Nigeria democracy.
The group said that the electoral commission was expected to declare the Ogun governorship election as inconclusive order a rerun, having recorded factual anormallies in the process, such as snatching of ballot boxes and papers by gunmen in some booths, burning of polling booths, disruption and cancelation of election in many places like Sagamu and Ifo local government areas.
The State Coordinator of the group, Arc. Sodeind Daniel also said that the electoral body in the state was not reliable, rather, it has proven to Nigerians and the people of Ogun state that the commission was not independent and cannot say the truth.
Sodeinde said, “its unfortunate that INEC has broken its own rules and laws, and this alone is capable of influencing and causing breakdown of laws and order by Nigerians and also destroy our democracy.
“INEC has broken its own Electoral acts, which means, the leadership of the commission was not independent and has no regard for its own constitution”.
“We have seen cases of ballot snatching and burning of polling booths by gunmen, while election did not hold in so many places in Sagamu, Ifo and other local government areas in the state, which the electoral body are well aware of”.
“We have many similar cases of what happened in Ogun state in other states and how it was dealt with. In other states with similar cases, elections were declared inclusive, including cancellation and rerun, and one wonders why Ogun state’s case is different”.
“We are asking all the relevant authorities and institutions saddled with the responsibilities of upholding laws, to call INEC to order and do the needful in Ogun state”.
“We are not in a lawless country and we cannot continue to watch our mandate being stolen”.
“We are law abiding citizens and we waiting for the directives from the authorities and leadership our party as we stand for justice”.
“As a leader, I can assure everyone that our group will do everything to fight for what is just and right, and we will make sure we do all that is necessary to protect our democracy”, Sodeinde concluded.
