GOVERNORSHIP candidate of Lagos State chapter of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, has called for the restructuring of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying a body whose chairman was appointed by a president who is also seeking a relationship election can hardly be trusted as an independent umpire.
Pearse made this call on Sunday in a release made available to Tribune Online in Lagos, even as he declared that INEC had more shortcomings than postponement of elections, which it announced last Saturday few hours to the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly polls, which out to have been held nationwide.
The electoral umpire had blamed the postponement on logistics.
“Postponement of election is not the worst of INEC’s failures. Some fundamental changes have to take place,” the SDP gubernatorial candidate said, adding: “An INEC chairman appointed by a President seeking election can hardly be trusted as an independent umpire.”
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“INEC, like other organs of government must be restructured,” he demanded.
According to him, as it stands now, the commission’s operations are too complex and cumbersome to allow for credible performance, saying that each state of the Federation must have a truly democratic and independent electoral commission.
“INEC operations are too complex, and cumbersome. Each state must have a truly democratic and independent election commission,” Pearse said.
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