Kogi’s Governor-Elect, Captain Idris Wada has challenged Prince Abubakar Audu, his main rival in last weekend’s gubernatorial election to come up with scientifically provable evidence of the alleged rigging which the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN candidate blamed for his defeat.
While Wada who flew the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said he was still savouring his victory ahead of forming a government of technocrats, Audu on his part said he was weighing his options having according to him compiled the authentic results from his agents.
The Nigeria Bar Association, NBA on its part has given its endorsement to the conduct of the election, saying that the election could become a template for the conduct of future elections in the country.
Affirming that the election was free and fair, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega has urged Audu to go to court to prove his case of rigging. Jega spoke at the inauguration of eight newly approved Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs. Jega at the occasion warned RECs against soliciting any form of assistance from governors, saying that the commission was poised to have an unhindered preparation for the next round of general elections.
People Democratic Party (PDP) Cap Idris Wada Cast his vote at the Odu-Ogboyaga Dekina Local Government in Kogi State
“They robbed us of our victory and we are studying the results in our possession. You know we were at all the polling booths and have the duplicates and very soon we will make our position known,” Audu said through his spokesman, Sani Ologun yesterday evening.
Responding to the claims of scientific rigging first articulated by Audu’s Chief Strategic Officer, Mr. Dino Melaye, Wada speaking through his media advisor, Jacob Edi said yesterday:
“We are savouring our victory gotten from the good people of Kogi State and the allegations of rigging is the normal sing-song of the opposition especially when they lose elections.”
“They say that the election was scientifically rigged but the weakness of that argument is that anything that is scientific is provable, so we invite them to come forward with scientific proof of the alleged rigging,” Edi said yesterday.
Continuing, he said:
“Captain Wada is already settling down to run Kogi State and laying down the framework for scientific governance to push forward the lot of the people. Under Wada one plus one must be two and that is the truth that the people are going to see from now on.”
“This election was very free and fair as shown by the report of the NBA which was neither solicited or sponsored. Let the ACN accept the hand of fellowship and come join Wada this is because power comes from God.”
NBA endorses poll
Meanwhile, the NBA in endorsing the conduct of the election described the poll as a reference point on ‘’credible and peaceful electoral behaviour,’’ in the country.
The NBA also gave credit to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for ‘’cleaning up the voters’ register’’ before the poll.
This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by Election Working Group, EWG, which monitored the poll for the NBA.
Those who signed the statement include the Chairman of EWG, Mr. Dafe Akpedeye, SAN and the Alternate Chairman, Mr. Festus Okoye.
While noting some minor infractions, the NBA put forward the following recommendation:
‘’The Independent National Electoral Commission should as a matter of national emergency enforce the provision of the Electoral Act, 2010 requiring political parties to submit the list of their party agents and their data to the electoral officers in the local governments at least 7 days before any election. This will make it possible to pin down party agents to particular polling units and make the arrest of those that breach the law on election day possible.
‘’The Independent National Electoral Commission should have the responsibility of accrediting political party agents. The names and photograph of the said agents should be embossed on the accreditation tags and then Electoral Commission should keep a duplicate of each.
‘’Political parties should on their own train their party agents’ rather than unleashing party thugs on the polling units to cause disruption and mayhem.
‘’The Independent National Electoral Commission should reduce the number of voters per polling unit to not more than 500. The size of some of the polling units makes it practically impossible to carry out accreditation before voting. The bloated figure of the polling units also creates security challenges for presiding officers and security agents.
‘’The Independent National Electoral Commission should make adequate transportation arrangement for the mobility of presiding officers and poll clerks to the polling units. A situation where presiding officers and poll clerks carry collapsible cubicles, sensitive and non-sensitive materials on their heads to their assigned polling units exposes them to danger of ballot snatching and threat to their lives.
‘’We commend the people of Kogi State for displaying exemplary electoral behaviour during the election. Some cynics had predicted that the gubernatorial election will witness a harvest of violence and destruction of lives and properties but the people of Kogi State disproved all those assertions. It is to the credit of the people that Kogi State will serve as a reference point on peaceful elections and credible electoral behaviour.
‘’We commend the different arms of the security agencies for adding value to the electoral process in Kogi State through the provision of adequate security cover for the voters and electoral officials.
‘’We commend members of the National Youth Service Corps who participated in the gubernatorial election in Kogi State. They displayed exemplary behaviour and did not allow the events of the past when some of their colleagues lost their lives to dissuade them from serving and contributing their quota to the development of the electoral process.
‘’We commend the Independent National Electoral Commission for the improvements recorded in the course of the election including the timely distribution of electoral materials and the conduct of electoral officials.
‘’The NBA Election Working Groups looks forward to a time when the conduct of elections will become a routine civic responsibility devoid of huge security presence.’’
Also yesterday, INEC chairman Prof. Jega denied the claim by Audu that the commission collaborated in the alleged scientific rigging of the election.
Speaking at the inauguration of eight new Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, Jega said INEC took its time to ensure that the polls were free, fair and credible.
He said: “INEC did not carry out any scientific rigging or any form of rigging for that matter in the Kogi election,” adding that many people including politicians and observers attested to the fact that the election was largely conducted according to the laid down guidelines.
He continued: “We are also not deluded to believe that all is well hence our persistent call that everybody should join hands with INEC to ensure that our electoral system becomes one of the best in Africa; we know that there is still room for improvement and we are not resting on our oars to ensure that we continue to improve on the system” .
He however urged anybody who was not satisfied with the conduct of the election to go to the court saying he still believes that any such person or group have the right under the law to ventilate that avenue which he added is part of the electoral system.
Jega warns RECs against friendship with Govs
Meanwhile, while inaugurating the eight new RECs, Jega read the riot act warning them against the lure of going cap-in-hands to state governors and local government chairmen for any form of assistance insisting the INEC has the capacity of taking care of their demands.
The INEC chairman also enjoined them to join hands with his commission in its quest to ensure that the tradition of free, fair and credible elections was introduced in the country notwithstanding the fact that the task ahead of them is a difficult one.
“We must do your best to ensure that you sustain the efforts we are making to bring transparency, accountability and integrity to the electoral process. You must not relax with the notion that it is now uhuru because despite the spate of accolades there are still a lot that are yet to be done and all hands must be on deck to achieve this.
“You must do your job with integrity and selfless dedication, you must not be partisan, you must create a level playing ground for all contestants and if you were affiliated to any political party, you must immediately drop that acquaintance because in this era that INEC is going through a transformation, we should work hard to get it right so that by 2015 we would have become one of the best in Africa”.
Responding on behalf of the new RECs, Dr. Gabriel Ada said they are happy with the strides the commission has made under Prof. Jega and promised to work hard to be on the same page with him.
He said they will discharge their duties with dignity and every sense of responsibility adding that it is in the best interest of the country for the electoral system be such that everybody will have confidence in it at all times.
The new RECs include; Sylvester Okey Ezeani from Anambra State, Minkaila Abdulahi from Jigawa State, Dr. Lawrence Azubuike from Imo State, Sam Olugbadebo Olumekun representing Ondo State, Prof. Istifanus Ishaku Dafwang of Plateau State, Mrs. Gesila Khan from Bayelsa State, Mr. Samuel Madaki Usman representing Taraba and Dr. Gabriel Ada from Cross River State.
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