Group warn INEC and Security Agents against manipulation in Ondo State
CONCERNED OODUA STAKEHOLDERS (COS) has warned that Ondo State must not be turned to a theatre of political manipulation and for permeating and perpetrating political domination and or subjugation of the Southwest at the expense of the collective democratic wishes and aspirations of the people. The group which affirmed its commitment and to the political survival and democratic values of the peoples of the Southwest geopolitical region alerted Nigerians and the global community on what it terms growing concerns over the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State. They condemned the conduct of elections in recent time by INEC citing incidences of violence and bare-faced ballot rigging in Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo State. The group alleged that the electoral system in recent times has been characterised by perfidy orchestrated in connivance with security agencies.
The group which is A coalition of self-determination, pro-democracy and professional organizations asserted that “those already wishing that possible ‘take-over’ of Ondo State through electoral fraud would serve as positive signal for their political permutation ahead of 2019 must be encouraged to cautiously revisit the history of the State”. The group charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Security Agents to ensure free, fair, credible and non-violent governorship poll in Ondo State on November 26, 2016.
At a press conference in Lagos, the National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Kola Are explained that their concern and apprehension over the forthcoming elections in Ondo State were not misplaced, exaggerated or ill-conceived considering developments regarding the electoral process in recent time. According to Mr. Are, “unless the current leadership of the federal electoral body reassures Nigerians about its readiness to genuinely invest the electoral process with independence as manifested by the display of some level of integrity, the process leading to the general election in 2019 may degenerate into more chaos and uncertainties with dire consequences for the already battered corporate entity of the country”.
According to the leader of the group warned INEC to resist the urge to be coerced or goaded by security agents working under the guise, instigation or prodding of any political interest or from any quarter whatsoever. The group however stated that in the event that the leadership of INEC cannot resist the urge to be unduly influenced, the world at large should be rest assured that the electorate would insist that their votes must count and that their overall mandate cannot be easily wished away, mortgaged or supplanted by whatever power or through whichever means. Furthermore, the group noted that the role of the security agencies in coercing the electoral body in postponing the governorship poll in Edo State speaks volume of the extent to which the electoral process has been rendered susceptible to flagrant and unmitigated manipulation. We would like to warn that the consequences of deploying official obduracy and meddlesomeness of security agencies in manipulating the process in Ondo State may be too ominous to contemplate. The group therefore call on well-meaning stakeholders home and abroad to caution INEC and the security against tinkering with the process in Ondo State.
The group noted that the raging contention over the conduct and results announced for the governorship election in Edo State has further eroded the confidence of the people in the legitimacy and integrity of INEC. According to the group. it should not be a matter of convenience for the leadership of INEC to indulge in any act capable of deepening the doubts of the electorate in Ondo State. INEC must discharge its role without fear and favour and refrain from pandering to the dictate of those working to undermine the sanctity of the Ballot Box.
The group said it was alarmed by malfeasance of security agencies in the wake of the bye elections conducted in Rivers and Bayelsa States and the more recently held governorship poll in Edo States and therefore warned that “the political consciousness and sensibilities peculiar with the electorate in Ondo State must not be underestimated or taken for granted”. The group condemned the desperation of political actors in perfecting means of legitimizing electoral fraud through the muzzling of the electoral body, militarization of the process, harassment and intimidation by security operatives, monetization and high-wire media propaganda.
The group further cautioned that Ondo State should not be turned to theatre for permeating and perpetrating political domination and subjugation of the Southwest at the expense of the collective democratic wishes and aspirations of the people. According to the group, political gladiators in Ondo State must be guided by history and the wisdom of allowing the electorate to freely and fairly choose amongst the candidates and the political parties that best suit the overall interest of the State and the people. The group warned that the raging contention over the conduct and results announced for the governorship election in Edo State must not be allowed to reoccur in Ondo State.
The group called on well-meaning stakeholders home and abroad to caution INEC and the security agent against tinkering with the process in Ondo State. The group maintained its resolve to mobilise the electorate in Ondo State to protect their votes and to vehemently reject any result that does not represent the collective wishes and aspirations of the people; insisting that results returned at the polling units should not be different or at variance with the final results that would be announced by INEC as outcome of the election.