The Northern Emancipation Network (NEN) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to reconsider some nominations of national commissioners and Residence Electoral Commissioners (RECs) into the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enhance the credibility of the 2023 General Elections.
The General Secretary, NEN, Abba Suleiman Abdulazeez, made the call on Sunday in Abuja.
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He said the growing concerns over the quality of people on the nomination list submitted to the Senate for appointment as national commissioners and RECs, especially the position of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum’s President, Yerima Shettima, should not be ignored.
“We are of the firm view that elections are the most important process that gives Nigerians the opportunity to alter the course of development that can change their lives.
“We are opposed to any form of electoral banditry that will put this country into a deeper problem in addition to the current situation of things in Northern Nigeria and many other parts of the country, with growing insecurity and ineffectual governance at the grassroots,” Abdulazeez said.
He said that the President should reconsider the list with a view to nominating people of integrity who have the capacity to deliver credible elections.
“We respectfully call on the President to review the choice of nominees and go for reliable and tested commissioners as reported by a newspaper that carried out investigation on why individuals like Prof. Okeychukwu lbeanu, who delivered a credible election of Anambra was denied tenure renewal.
“Also is the honest AVM Mauzu (Retd), the disciplined and performing RECs of Sokoto, Akwa-Ibom and a few others who demonstrated character and integrity in the 2019 election,” he said.
He said the best practice worldwide is that where you find people of integrity and competence, you retain them and promote them to inspire others and grow and not remove them for people whose pedigree are not known by the public because perception is a key factor in election management.
He said, “We restate that RECs with integrity, credibility and consistency particularly during the 2019 election should not be exited from the system because they uphold a high value and are committed to the good of the country.
“The president should act as he did a few days ago with the new NNPC Board.
“Mr President should therefore diligently review the list of nominees to the Senate by making changes, that will restore the faith of Nigerians in the coming 2023 elections.
“There should be no manipulation of the electoral management institutions by vested interests around the President who are bent on destroying his proven integrity and his remaining opportunity to leave behind an enduring electoral legacy that history and future Nigerians will remember him for.”
