BEVERLY HILLS, CA, November 18, (THEWILL) – As controversy continues to trail the result of the Anambra State Governorship Election which held on Saturday, a civil rights group, Nigeria Civil Society Election Situation Room, has slammed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for failing to conduct a credible poll in the state.
Describing INEC’s announcement of supplementary elections in areas where elections failed to hold or were cancelled as an admission of failure, the group said the lapses represent an admission of the failings identified in the statements issued by the group throughout the elections.
A statement issued by the group on Monday in Abuja said: “These lapses put a question mark on INEC’s preparedness to conduct future elections,” adding ” The Civil Society Election Situation Room is concerned that the problems and lapses identified in the Anambra State Governorship elections are systemic in nature, and may not be sufficiently addressed before the announced supplementary elections in the State.”
The group further warned that INEC may still be bedevilled by the range of identified problems, unless it acts with the decisiveness and honesty of purpose required at this time.
The Situation Room therefore called on INEC to outline what plans it has put in place to improve logistics so as to restore the waning voter confidence in the supplementary election in Anambra State.
It also urged the electoral commission to publicly outline its strategies for improving on future elections including the planned Governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States in 2014, as well as the general elections of 2015.
