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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Protesters, numbering hundreds, on Thursday, stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, specifically on a mission to express their feelings on the outcome of the recently-conducted Osun state off-cycle governorship election.
They claimed that they were on a mission to commend the commission’s chairman, Joash Amupitan, President Bola Tinubu and the security agencies overthe neutral role they played that resulted in the final outcome of the poll.
The protesters that disrupted vehicular traffic for close to an hour insisted that by the singular action, the electoral umpire boss has earned the confidence of Nigerians ahead of next year’s general elections.
Brandishing several posters with various inscriptions, they expressed confidence that if the standard demonstrated in the Osun election is sustained and improved upon, Nigeria can deliver a 2027 election that will strengthen democracy.
The multiple coalitions behind the protest were under the auspices of the Opposition Political Parties United for Democracy, National Ethnic Groups, Area Consultative Youth Movement, Middle Belt Youth Forum, Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Movement, South South Youth Leaders Consultative Forum, Oduduwa Youth Assembly, and African Centre for Justice and Human Rights.
In his speech while presenting the protest letter, the leader of the coalition, Comrade Obed Agu, said: “We are here to say thank you to an institution whose conduct in the Osun governorship election has renewed the confidence of many Nigerians in the electoral process.”
“We are here as representatives of political parties, ethnic youth organisations, community leaders, religious leaders, women leaders, civil society and other democratic stakeholders who participated in the national post-election discourse convened by the African Centre for Justice and Human Rights.
“We reached a clear conclusion that Amupitan has earned our confidence. We are aware that when he assumed office as Chairman of INEC, there were questions about his independence, assumptions about who appointed him and voices predicting what he would do. But democracy requires that we judge people by their conduct.
“And today, after observing the Osun election, we say, judge Amupitan by what he has done. He has demonstrated institutional independence, engaged political parties, followed electoral timelines, continued preparations for 2027,and strengthened stakeholder engagement.
“And under his leadership, the Osun electoral process has provided a basis for renewed confidence. That is why our message today is simple, Amupitan has earned our confidence,” they noted.
The protesters however, claimed that; “the confidence also carries responsibility. We expect the same standard to continue, and even higher standard in 2027. We expect every Nigerian voter to be treated equally. We expect every political party to be treated fairly. We expect every vote to count. We expect the commission to remain independent.and the electoral process to remain transparent.”
“We also acknowledge the role of President Tinubu and the security agencies in creating an environment in which the Osun election could take place without undue interference. The Federal Government’s conduct during the election demonstrates an important principle.
“Government can be powerful without using that power to determine electoral outcomes. That principle must continue into 2027. Our message to President Tinubu is equally straightforward to continue on this track.
“Our message to the security agencies is: to maintain neutrality and professionalism. Our message to the political class is to let the people decide, and to Nigerians do not give up on democracy. When institutions work, acknowledge them, When it fails, hold them accountable. When politicians do wrong, speak. When politicians do right, speak. That is responsible citizenship.
“Today, therefore, we present our solidarity to INEC and express our confidence in Amupitan’s ability to lead the commission towards an even more credible, transparent and inclusive 2027 general election. The Osun election has given Nigeria a new democratic benchmark. Osun must not be an exception. It must be the standard.
“We have confidence in the democratic process, electoral institution and we have confidence that, if the standard demonstrated in Osun is sustained and improved upon, Nigeria can deliver a 2027 election that will strengthen our democracy,” the protesters noted.
Responding, National Commissioner Haruna Kudu Mohammed, while receiving the protest letter assured that the commission will continue to improve in its conduct of elections.
