PRESS STATEMENT MARCH 25 2009
2011 Election Rigging Phase Two
Conference of Nigeria Political Parties {CNPP}, wishes to state that President Umaru Musa Yaradua and his henchmen had regrettably concluded the 2 nd - Phase of the grave process of rigging the 2011 Elections at the National Council of State’s meeting yesterday.
CNPP with all sense of patriotism regards the adoption of the President Yaradua’s White Paper Report, instead of the Electoral Reform Report, as Rigging by other means, because no credible free and fair election can take place in 2011, when President Yaradua whose political party had already endorsed for second term, will appoint cronies as chairman and key official of the Electoral Commission. This is phase two of plan to subvert the sanctity of the ballot box and consolidate one party dictatorship.
The 1 st Phase of rigging is the secrecy that guided the Electoral Reform Committee {ERC} Report, up to date, poisoned when the Chief Michael Aondoakaa, Minister of Justice’s sub-committee rejected the first White Paper produced by Dr Shettima Mustapher, Minister of Defence’s committee and accordingly the core elements of the Electoral Reform Committee {ERC} Report.
It is our considered view in league with the ERC Report that no credible, free and fair election will take place in a polluted electoral process where the referee is biased and partial.
We did not expect miracles from ex-presidents or justices nor the executive governors, who had through horse trading secured their kingdoms, hitherto securely guided by the State Electoral Commissions, which the Electoral Reform Committee {ERC} Report recommended should be merged with a truly Independent National Electoral Commission. The governors from their refusal to the merger clearly demonstrated lack of confidence in a National Electoral Commission, which is an appendage of the presidency.
Nigerians agree with the governors on this issue, an issue which exposed the mischief and orchestra of deception of President Yaradua and his henchmen. For while rejecting the patriotic recommendation of the ERC Report that recommended the insulation of any president and his political party from appointing chairman and key officials of the Electoral Commission, the lame and flimsy excuse the government gave was the preservation of the doctrine of separation of powers, but paradoxically trampling on the doctrine of true federalism.
For the avoidance of doubt, let us to state clearly, that on the ERC Report CNPP STAND; as the high expectations Nigerians had that their votes will count in 2011, when President Yaradau promised electoral reform has vanished.
Osita Okechukwu
National Publicity Secretary
CNPP
