Nigerian senator, Okakuro Ede Dafinone, has demanded for an amendment of the country’s constitution to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections into local government councils in Nigeria.
Senator Dafinone, who represents Delta Central Senatorial District of Delta State, described last Saturday’s local government election in Delta as a complete sham and a mockery of democratic ideals and standard election principles.
The All Progressives Congress Senator spoke on the growing concern across the country on how the sitting state governors uses the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) to undermine the growth and development of the electoral system at the local government level.
The Delta Central lawmaker while reacting to the outcome of the council polls held in Delta state said, “It’s very unfortunate that people at the grassroots level are prevented from participating in our democratic process by state governors to freely elect their councillors and council chairmen.”
While applauding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the financial autonomy for the local governments across the country with the recent Supreme Court landmark judgement, Dafinone noted that Nigerians of goodwill must collectively work to amend the relevant sections of the constitution to rescue the local government system from the iron-fist of the state Governors.
He added that the main opposition in the state, the All Progressives Congress sensed that the electoral umpire, Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) was not going to conduct credible elections as predicted, hence most of their party candidates withdrew from the polls.
According to him, “it’s very unfortunate and sad how low our people can go to acquire power. It’s even more troubling that after 25 years in our democratic experiment we can’t conduct what looks like an election at local government level.
“What took place in Delta State on Saturday to all intent and purpose can’t be classified as an election. It’s a complete sham and an affront on all known democratic ideals.
“The State electoral umpire most probably acting on the instructions of the state Governor just allotted figures to candidates who took part in the shambolic process. It can at best be described as a mere coronation of all PDP nominated candidates.
“As predicted by political watchers that the Delta State PDP-led government is incapable of conducting free, fair and credible elections, DISEC proved all of us right. Because there were reports across the state that electoral materials, particularly results sheet were not supplied to many polling units, and in some cases, wards where they consider as strongholds of the opposition, voting materials were not supplied at all.
“It’s disheartening that our governors who are products of free and fair elections can’t replicate same in the local government areas of their state. If INEC were to conduct elections the way the governors purportedly tele-guide SIEC to conduct local government polls, many of them will not be governor today.”
“I think at this point in our national history and democratic journey, we have to put partisan politics aside and work collectively to amend the relevant sections of our constitution to rescue the local government system from the grips of our governors.
“I must commend the laudable effort of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking the lead in this respect by ensuring financial autonomy for the local governments across the country.
“We must do likewise to enthrone democratic principles at the local government level by ensuring that a credible agency, possibly INEC, is charged with the conduct of local government elections across the country in order to guarantee our people’s participation in democratic governance.”
