The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), today insisted that President Jonathan's decision to summon Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega to a meeting that was not attended by other political parties in Abuja on Tuesday is part of ongoing moves to compromise the integrity of the electoral commission, which is expected to be fair and neutral.
The opposition party in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, insisted that it was wrong for President Jonathan who is also a contender in the forth coming polls to be summoning the electoral umpire at will, especially when such meetings are populated by his appointees.
He added that, "Without the representatives of other political parties attending such meetings, irrespective of whether or not it is aimed at briefing security chiefs on the preparations for the polls, the ruling PDP and its presidential candidate are seeking to gain undue advantage over others ahead of the elections.
”It is like the referee in a football match meeting with key officials of one of the teams ahead of the match. This is against the spirit of transparency and fairness and must stop forthwith.
"Had the representatives of other political parties, apart from the PDP (the President is the leader of the PDP), attended the meeting, the widespread speculations that Jega’s life and job were threatened if he fails to drop the use of the card reader, as well as circulating reports that he will be removed before Saturday, would not have happened."
Photo credit: The Punch
No comments:
Post a Comment