Stop intimidation of INEC commissioners, CSO cautions politicians

CITIZENS Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), a CSO, has cautioned the two leading political parties, APC and PDP to stop dishing out statements that tend to intimidate INEC commissioners.

Mr Frank Tietie, the Executive Director of CASER, who is also a human rights lawyer, gave the caution at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to Tietie, the caution is necessary following the allegations made by the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole that some INEC commissioners are working for the opposition party, PDP.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the APC National Chairman had on Monday, Feb. 18 during the party’s caucus meeting, made an allegation that INEC commissioners in states such as Akwa Ibom and Rivers were working in collaboration with the main opposition party.

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Meanwhile, the Executive Director of CASER described the INEC commissioner in Akwa Ibom state, Mr Mike Igini as an upright man who had maintained integrity for decades.

“Mike Igini is one of the best and humble representatives of Nigeria Civil Society leadership and the legal profession in terms of the steadfastness of character.’’

He said that the INEC commissioner had proven his immunity against the filthy lucre of unscrupulous politicians and in the eyes of most Nigerians.

“The commissioner epitomises integrity and forthrightness of INEC and has served in various states in different administrations as a Resident Electoral Commissioner.

“He is a pride to the NGO/CSO community and the legal profession in Nigeria. He is an exemplary activist that has highly inspired many Nigerians into pure activism without any agenda but for truth and in the interest of Nigerian people.

“In as much as CASER is nonpartisan; it has a responsibility to positively affirm at all times that there is hope for Nigeria because of active presence and commitment of patriotic and competent Nigerians like Mike Igini.

“Only the guilty, wicked, evil and unscrupulous politicians who hate Nigeria and its people will dare for cheap political gains cast aspersions on the integrity of the institutional and highly inspirational Mike Igini,” tietie said.

The Executive Director said that the commissioner’s reputations had been unassailable in the discharge of his duty, and called on the leaders of the two political parties to guide against intimidating utterances.

The CSO also alleged that it was because the parties might not have their way to write election results that they were calling for the change of the Akwa Ibom REC.