Knocks greet INEC’s conduct of Anambra gov poll - Punch The Independent Electoral Commission has come under fire from many Nigerians on its conduct of the Anambra State governorship election held on Saturday. Many Nigerians on their Twitter handles alleged that there were irregularities and electoral fraud in the poll. According to them, the poll, which would have further tested INEC’s level of preparedness ahead of the 2014 governorship poll in Ekiti and the 2015 general elections, was characterised with ballot snatching, and arbitrariness in thumb printing. The exercise, they also alleged, witnessed lateness of materials, absence of INEC officials and materials at some polling units. Other complaints were inadequate logistics provision for security officers, hostile polling officers to observers, complicity of the security agents in electoral fraud, and the continued display of campaign posters during the election. These came amid assurances from the electoral umpire that the election would be hitch-free. Meanwhile, as of Sunday, there were still rerun elections in 65 polling centres even as some of the contestants have criticised the conduct of the poll. The All Progressives Congress candidate, Senator Chris Ngige, and his Labour Party counterpart, Patrick Uba, are among some of those who have faulted the exercise. While some Nigerians resorted to venting their anger over the conduct of the election on their timelines, a few others have gone a step further to confront INEC via its Twitter handle, @inecnigeria, which regularly updates its over 67,000 followers, about its activities especially the Saturday election. Although INEC is in the eye of the storm, its Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, is not spared, either. Some have questioned his competence and preparedness with regard to the future elections. To these persons, the future of other elections is already bleak. Bashir Gabo wrote, “Before Jega’s appointment as INEC chairman, his reputation and integrity were undoubtedly beyond reproach! Our system is cruel!” Tholu Olamipo, on the other hand, said, “Prof Jega- but why? This INEC job is not your thing. Don’t use this position to destroy your brand!” Muhiyi Magaji stated, “Jega has nothing to convince well meaning Nigerians on the performance of INEC.” Other analysts also insisted that with the Saturday poll, the fate of future elections hangs in the balance. So, INEC appears to be needing more than empty promises to convince the over four million Nigerians, who have made Twitter their second home. Paul Iguniwei shares this. He said, “Hope we know? There was no election in Anambra! No thanks to APGA and INEC.” Baba Mohammed noted, “I can confidently say that GEJ would win if INEC conducts 2015 polls. Let us all stop dreaming; 2015 results are ready!” Others like Akeem Progress, Nnamdi Okechukwu and Thioye also expressed displeasure over INEC’s conduct. While Progress’ tweet read, “Shame on INEC. One whole year to prepare for election, yet logistics hitches everywhere”, Okechuwku said, “INEC, had enough time to prepare for this election . It is disheartening that it made a mess of the election.” Thioye’s tweet read, “If INEC couldn’t handle just a state, how would 2015 be?” Centurion said, “If INEC cannot organise a free and fair election after all the billions of naira allocated to it, I think we should consider contracting foreigners.” “It is crystal clear that 2015 will be another drama that must find its place in the Guiness Book of Record #INEC #AnambaraDecides,” read a tweet by Balogun Samson. Isioma also went hard saying, “With the just concluded election, it shows that INEC has retrogressed.” Despite the ongoing Twitter debate, Opey Akinlolu sees the whole exercise differently. His tweet read, “Elections are not won on Twitter or Facebook or at town hall conversations!”
Posted on: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 18:30:41 +0000
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