Rerun elections: CTA indicts Police, judiciary

An accredited election monitoring and observer group, Centre for Transparency and Advocacy (CTA), has indicted the Police and judiciary over its conduct in weekend rerun elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had conducted Court ordered rerun elections in 28 constituencies in 11 States of the Federation.

The CTA, in its review of the process, expressed concern that no lesson has been learnt particularly by the police which has since been upbraided for shoddy conduct in the last November governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States.

CTA in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Faith Nwadishi, expressed disappointment over the violence that trailed the elections, particularly in Imo and Akwa Ibom states despite heavy police presence.

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“Centre for Transparency Advocacy with dismay noted that Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Imo states presented the worst scenario in electoral infractions during the January 25, 2020 re-run elections.

”For instance, in Akwa Ibom State, armed thugs invaded Ukana West, Ward 11, units 5, 8, 9 and Ikpe Annang Ward 5 unit 12 in Essien Udim LGA were electoral materials were carted away and INEC staff abducted.

“The same thing happened in Abi LGA at Afafanyi/Igonigoni Ward where a Supervisory Presiding Officer was abducted with electoral materials in commando-style through the Itigidi river thereby disrupting elections in 8 units of the ward.

”In all these, the Police looked the other way while hoodlums and desperate politicians had their way to the detriment of our democracy .”

The CTA further argued that the role of the judiciary in granting an injunction to stop an ongoing electoral process in Imo state leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

Nwadishi called on President Muhammadu Buhari to walk his talk on the marching order he gave to INEC and the Nigerian police to work towards peaceful and credible elections in Nigeria.

” It is also sad to note that in Imo State, a Federal High Court granted an order stopping INEC from carrying out its legitimate and constitutional duties.

“Unfortunately, the Nigerian police made itself available to be used to thwart INEC from its duties.

“The Imo State Commissioner of police personally led his men to enforce the court order that had May 27, 2019, as the date the case was instituted. We also want to be seeing the Police Commissioner personally leading the enforcement of all other court orders within Imo State.

”The rancorous scenario created by the police action on January 28, 2020, created fear in the INEC state headquarters and INEC officers feared for their lives.

“Before now, in the same Imo State, the Chief of Staff to the Governor in the company of some people and their security details invaded the coalition centre for the Orlu/Orsu/Oru East Federal constituency re-run election and intimidated the Returning Officer who did not yield to their demand. It is worrisome that in all these, the Nigerian police are either active accomplices or did nothing to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

”CTA had called on President Muhammadu Buhari to walk his talk on the marching order he gave to INEC and the Nigerian police to work towards peaceful and credible elections in Nigeria. CTA calls again on Mr President to walk his talk by cautioning the Nigerian police to be neutral and protect the integrity of the electoral process.”