INEC’ll have to give account of itself now —APC Reps candidate

Following the postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections last Saturday, tension have increased in the polity, with attention shifting to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as regards its preparedness. As a candidate in the election, how would describe the situation?

Honestly, I must say that the success of this forthcoming election is the responsibility of all of us. I mean the INEC, the electorate, all the security agencies and politicians. We must all play our parts in ensuring that the election is free, fair, transparent, peaceful and credible. We must not see the election as a do-or-die affair. Rather, it must be seen like a sport in which the winner would embrace the loser, while the loser too would accept defeat in the good spirit of sportsmanship.

As a contestant, I believe that the major aim of seeking the people’s vote is to serve and represent them well. If we all see things this way, we will not be fighting one another. But some politicians have turned it to a do-or-die affair because their aim of seeking votes is to go and enrich themselves, their family as well as their generations unborn.

With regards to INEC, I have to say that it must give a good account of itself after what happened last Saturday. Nigerians as well as the international community are now looking at every step taken by INEC and the onus lies on the commission to prove itself as transparent and effective by ensuring an orderly and credible election on Saturday.

Nigerians have been divided over the two leading presidential candidates, President Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a development that seems to be responsible for the major tension…

Nigerians have tested a government for 16 years and we have seen how they ruined the economy of the country. But look at the All Progressives Congress (APC) government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari. It has, within just three and half years, achieved more than what the PDP government did in 16 years.

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As you would have noted, the manifesto of APC is pro-masses, aimed at putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians. In a few years, President Buhari has done a lot to improve the economy, security and in terms of fighting corruption. So, I will say that only APC can take this country to the next level. We should not use our votes to take Nigeria back to the old days of maladministration and bad governance. Nigerians should ensure the continuity of the Buhari administration, which has, within less than four years, put the Nigeria economy in a good shape.

Did you think your constituents should elect you as their representative?

My determination to offer excellent and qualitative representation to the constituency made me to join this contest, because I believe my people have not been well represented for the past four years. So, if I am elected, I will ensure that my people are well represented and I would bring federal presence into the constituency. If you look at my constituency, you will see a general dearth of infrastructure. If I am given the opportunity to serve, I promise to ensure that this situation changes for better through facilitation of road networks, donation of transformers and construction of boreholes to ease the challenges of electricity and water in the constituency. I would as well as attract industries to boost the economy of the constituency in order to create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths.

How did you hope to achieve these?

As I have said while campaigning round the nooks and crannies of my constituency, my people will be in for a better time, if I am elected to represent them. I have set in motion efforts to ensure the sponsorship of bills and I would raise motions that would touch their lives positively and also impact on the nation at large.

I also believe that I am coming into office at a time that people need all the help they can get to beat the poverty trap and stay aboard. I have told my people that if elected, market men and women, students, farmers and artisans would all have a new lease of life, as I would ensure steady, consistent and constant assistance to them.