2019: Don’t rig election for any party, group warns INEC, security agencies

AHEAD of the 2019 general elections, a non-governmental organisation, Aproko.com Initiative, has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other stakeholders to eschew bias and partisanship.

Aproko.com Initiative gave the warning while briefing TribuneOnline on Saturday in Warri, Delta State.

Coordinator of the board of trustees of the organization, Ebaguolo Okorodudu and Kelechi Amaechi, during the briefing, said Nigerians must ensure a clean electoral system.

The duo with 10 other members at the brief said a zero partisan involvement by INEC, security agencies and the judiciary towards ensuring a clean, free and fair elections outcome in 2019 was the only way for a smooth electoral success in 2019.

The group, which mandate is to improve global best practices as regards governance, said security agencies must not be involved in partisan politics, adding that it erodes professionalism among them.

It insisted that while security agencies should work for the people, eligible Nigerians should also ensure they pick up their PVCs and shun vote buyers.

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“We need to confront the real enemies of our electoral process, who want to subvert the will of the people.

“We encourage Nigerians to do the right thing. We must change our ways that have yielded nothing good for something good,” the group insisted.

It urged the electoral umpire to be sincere and impartial, the security agencies professionally nonpartisan, and the judiciary and electorate awake to their responsibilities.

The group, which said its nonpartisan, warned all vote buyers, who share cash and foodstuffs to woo voters, to desist, adding that the menace of underage voters should also to be addressed.