The Social Democratic Social gathering, SDP, has referred to as on the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee, INEC, to be daring in implementing provisions of electoral legal guidelines and the Structure in future elections.
The SDP Nationwide Chairman, Shehu Gabam, mentioned this when he spoke with the Information Company of Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday.
Gabam mentioned Nigerians anticipated INEC in 2024 to make changes in areas the place there have been errors prior to now and take daring steps to right them sooner or later.
He added that INEC have to be daring in prosecuting electoral offenders and cancel elections the place there was proof of compromise within the course of.
“Within the final election in Kogi, INEC admitted that the election end result sheet, which is essentially the most delicate election materials, was leaked and pre-filled earlier than the election, but it surely didn’t act appropriately.
“Regardless of promising that it’ll cancel the election in these three native authorities areas, it didn’t try this, however we’re preventing it. We now have instituted a petition to problem it.
“INEC must be daring as a result of they’ve the facility to cancel elections the place there may be proof of compromise. The legislation may be very clear,’’ he mentioned.
Gabam suggested the INEC chairman to be daring in rectifying a number of the fee’s previous errors.
“The fee mentioned that it was investigating some electoral offenders, INEC has to exhibit to Nigerians that it is extremely severe in prosecuting them, in any other case voter apathy on this nation will likely be unprecedented,’’ he mentioned.
On the decision for additional assessment of electoral legal guidelines, Gabam mentioned Nigeria wanted reorientation of Nigerians if it should get its electoral course of proper.
“I believe reorientation is vital. Usually, there’s a want for reorientation for individuals to grasp their rights and privileges.
“If individuals are reoriented correctly for them to grasp that it’s their constitutional proper to solid their votes and their votes to be counted, they’ll resist any try to subvert their votes.
“As soon as individuals began resisting an try to subvert their votes, there’s nothing anyone, together with the chief, can do to subvert their will,” he mentioned.
He added that Nigerians should additionally change their angle of boycotting elections, saying boycotting elections was not an answer within the democratic system of presidency.