Falana faults PDP, APC govts on INEC autonomy

Human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, on Wednesday criticised
the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari and former
President Goodluck Jonathan for abandoning the panel reports to
make the Independent National Electoral Commission truly autonomous
and free from political interference.

Falana said it was doubtful if the country would have credible
elections in 2019, because there is little or no public trust in
the commission.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria stated these in Abuja, in his
keynote address at the annual general meeting and conference of the
Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.

He noted that the elite must participate actively in the 2019
general elections and “not allow people who are not enlightened to
decide our fate.”

The address was titled, “Bridging the trust gap in governance:
Implications for emerging democracies.”

Falana said the 2019 elections would be a mere ritual if elected
officials who betrayed the public trust were not voted out of
office.

He said, “On the credibility of our elections, former President
Musa Yar’Adua was very honest in 2007 when he declared that the
election that brought him to power was flawed.

“He therefore set up a judicial commission of inquiry headed by
Justice Muhammed Uwais, who later became the Chief Justice of
Nigeria.

“Former President Goodluck Jonathan also set up another inquiry
headed by Alhaji Ahmed Lemu. Both panels recommended at different
times that to have credible elections in our country, the chair and
members of INEC shall be appointed by advertisement with conditions
set up. People will apply and whoever qualifies shall be
appointed.

“It is not that the President will appoint them. The panels also
said there shall be an electoral offences tribunal to try those who
manipulate or who commit electoral offences. Unfortunately, both
the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress have
conveniently thrown those reports aside. And so, that is why we are
in trouble with the credibility of our elections.”

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