A pro-democracy group has condemned the confirmation of Rhoda Gumus, as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, National Commissioner, after accusing her of being a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress Party, APC.
The group in a statement, issued by the covener Deji Adeyanju, said despite the plea to the Senate President Ahmad Lawan, through a letter a few weeks ago, urging him to resist the attempt by President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a card-carrier of the ruling party, he still went ahead to confirm her nomination.
The Human Rights group explained that the federal lawmakers’ legislative action is a clear case of partisanship over national interest, saying it has set the nation’s electoral system 23 years back, as there is no intention to conduct a free and fair election in the year 2023.
The group said it is shameful and embarrassing that the Nigerian Senate, whose duty, amongst others, is to protect the Constitution, has chosen the inglorious path of violating the Constitution.
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It said, even under military rule, the rulers had respect for their laws and noted that the present crop of lawmakers has demonstrated beyond argument, that they have learnt nothing from the incidents that led to the collapse of previous democratic governments in Nigeria.
It warned of the danger that lies ahead if the political actors continue to resist any attempt to enshrine a transparent electoral system in Nigeria, as the nation’s democratic institutions rest on a transparent electoral process.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
