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*says INEC chairman should not be appointed by president
From Idu Jude Abuja
The National Assembly has been reminded of the urgent need to probe the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to determine how the agency spent the N400 billion meant for the 2023 elections.
Dr. Sam Amadi, Wednesday made the call in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at the Labour Party National Secretariat Utoko during an occasion used to commemorate ‘Democracy Day’.
Dr. Amadi, further explained that the National Assembly probing INEC should be part of its oversight functions and obligations to Nigerians, stressing that it should be able to explain to Nigerians why its results were not collated and declared electronically as provided in the INEC electoral Act as amended.
” Nigerians and indeed the National Assembly should be courageous enough to probe INEC expenditure during the 2023 general elections. The failure of the INEC server during the Presidential election with all the money given to them. It is appalling that no one spoke about the huge amount of money given Mahmood Yakubu and all the INEC commissioners to prosecute a failed election, failed because the Supreme Court has to step in to determine the result of elections”.
Furthermore, Dr Amadi, insisted that the ongoing electoral reform must reject the inconsistency of allowing the Presidency to appoint an INEC Chairman, stressing that such gives room for election rigging before the votes are cast.
” What is imminent here is that they have already positioned party members as INEC commissioners against 2027 where they would work and declare the results in favour of the Presidency that appointed them.
To this end, opposition parties should work together to win the war on electoral reform. It is time for you to decide whether the be the vanguard of change or not and set up a system that can win elections, this is because politics is not a game of possible’, ‘ if we are determined, we will win”.
Further admonishing the Labour Party members, during Democracy Day, he said that in preparation for 2027, the Labour Party should reminisce the Nigerian political terrain to determine how to go about it next election. “I think it is an error for any political party to go into any election without strengthening its process. You must take a review of your past, your mistakes and opportunities and weigh options with training of staff and support for the electoral reform, things will positively work out”. He said.
While welcoming members during the occasion, the leader of LP National Working Committee (NWC) Barrister Julius Abure, reminded the similarity between the ministry regime of 1993 that annulled the general elections and that 2whichthat was mismanaged by INEC.
Abure said that one of the cardinal strong points to prepare the Labour Party again for the 2027 general elections, is to ensure a holistic approach to electoral reform, to ensure that the party followers are well-educated. “We are to ensure that people themselves are not involved in betraying the patties. We have a situation where even INEC commissioners and party officials take bribes. Party agents also do the same”.
Labour Party members at the National Assembly during the occasion, appealed to members to shun internal crises to eschew division in the party.
Honourable Victor Adam Oghene, member of the Labour Party caucus, while speaking promised that electoral reform which has passed d second reading at the lower Chamber would ensure that the reform is passed into law and earlier enough against the 2027 general elections.
Chairman of the Political Commission of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Mr. Matins Egbanube corroborated that there is no division in the labour party as rumoured. “We don’t have two factional leadership and there can never be so the Labour Party remains united and strong”.
