THE Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) says that the credibility and preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free, fair and credible elections in 2019 is not in doubt and that those opposing the commission have no business participating in the coming elections.
National Chairman and Presidential candidate of the party, Abraham Breakforth, said this on Wednesday in Abuja at the end of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting and maiden State of the Nation address.
According to him, INEC has releases the guidelines and the voter register for the 2019 General Elections and that the party is convinced that the commission is the most improved institution, as such the present INEC remains one of the most neutral and unbiased umpire in the history of electoral body in Nigeria.
“We believe in the credibility, neutrality and commitment of INEC to steer the 2019 process to a logical conclusion without any manipulation whatsoever. Our party FJP has gone through the entire guidelines as released by INEC and had found it credible and proactive for a successful conduct of 2019 election in 2015.
“INEC then introduce accreditation before voting, which lead to the disenfranchise of over 45 percent accredited voters. Out of 66million registered voters nationwide in 2015 and 43million accredited and only 28million return to vote.
“The question is “where are the remaining 15mi||ion accredited voters, it makes it cumbersome, many will be on the line for long time to accredit and after leave the centre to return back, while majority will not return, but the 2019 guidelines provides for simultaneous accreditation and voting, it safes times, less cumbersome and no accredited votes will be disenfranchise,” Breakforth said.
He added that the issue of INEC collation centre and the controversies involving the National Commissioner Hajia Amina Zakari is needless as she not in charge of collation of results, she is only in charge of the committee responsible for the facility of INEC collation centres at ICC, while the INEC Chairman is fully in charge.
“We plead to all politician not to overheat the polity, the unity and survival of our Nation is privity over anybody ambition.
“If we destroy Nigeria which country shall we govern? INEC is doing their best, we should all encourage INEC leadership to carry out their constitutional responsibility instead of name calling and unlawful accusation, let all politician encourage their members to collect their PVC and come out to vote peacefully. Nigeria first before our ambition.”
He expressed worry that the security situation of the country is unfortunate and condemned the various killing across the country, especially the recent Sokoto incident which he said is regrettably.
“As such, this security situation will undermined the sanity of the 2019 General Elections, If not immediately tackle by the ruling APC government. We call on President Muhammadu to rise up to the challenge of keeping Nigeria safe to enable credible electoral process without any part of the country being disenfranchise.
“Our feared is that national security will greatly affect the credibility and successful conduct of 2019 general election in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Sokoto, Zamfara, Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa states respectively,” he said,