Paul Orude, Bauchi
A coalition of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accredited observers for the 2019 governorship election in Bauchi State has faulted the electoral body over its abandonment of the rerun election already rescheduled to take place on March 23 in Tafawa Balewa Local government, following the cancellation of the local government results.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday in Bauchi, secretary of the coalition Peter Nwokolo, flanked by the team’s leader, Emeh Friday, and other members opined that conducting the rerun election would be more acceptable to all parties.
The coalition opined that a rerun would avoid unnecessary legal tussles as the key actors have already made up their minds to put their act together for another electoral contest.
He lamented that there were many irregularities in the 2019 general elections all over the country following the manner innwhich the electoral commission had conducted the presidential and governorship elections.
“There is discontentment everywhere. There is almost general disillusionment among the masses that, probably, INEC under Professor Mahmood Yakubu, could not very well handle the 2019 general elections,” Nwokolo said.
“As it stands now, there is fear that certain unscrupulous elements in Bauchi State and elsewhere could seize the opportunity of this seeming electoral lacuna to engage in hooliganism and wanton disorder in the state,” he feared.
The election observers advised INEC to stand on their earlier position of cancelling the elections in Tafawa Balewa local government area and go ahead to conclude plans for the rerun election scheduled for March 23, arguing that if the imbroglio is not resolved in favour of constitutionality, the upcoming governorship polls in Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo and Kogi states may result in a constitutional crisis.
“More so, the replacement of the returning officer with a fresh person is an indication of acceptance of fault by the INEC. Could it now be that it was INEC staff as Returning Officer that holds the burden of error in the whole inconsistencies? The mere excuse of fear of threat to life could only mean face-saving antics. If the Returning Officer had compromised the system, she should be made to face the consequences of her actions,” the coalition argued.
“As independent civil society groups, our responsibility is to ensure that our constitutional democracy is deepened and strengthened, as well as comply with all relevant sections of the constitution and electoral act,” they noted.