Some politicians on Sunday in Lagos charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to devise ways to frustrate election riggers in 2015.
It will be recalled that INEC on Friday promised to frustrate riggers in the 2015 elections with a ‘clean’ voter register.
The commission also said it was working on scientific measures to counter problems such as multiple voting, sale of voter cards and snatching of ballot boxes.
Speaking on the issue, a former Chairman of the FCT Chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr Sunny Moniedafe, said he hoped the commission could keep to its word.
“I hope INEC can keep to its words because our dear country is where it is today as those in government feel they do not need the voters to win elections.”
According to him, Prof. Attahiru Jega is not the problem in the conduct of elections.
Moniedafe alleged that the commissioners in the past were the ones who messed up Nigeria’s electoral process, saying, “if they can change, it will be better for everybody.”
The National Public Relations Officer of KOWA Party, Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, also wished that INEC did what was right.
“Let INEC do the right thing; we have found out that in this country that those in authority are known to be saying one thing today and doing another tomorrow,” she said.
Sonaiya urged INEC to ensure that the 2015 election, if not the best should be near-perfect, adding that expectations of Nigerians were high.
The Director of a Lagos-based NGO, Movement for the Liberation of Nigeria (MLN), Mr Nurudeen Koroede, urged INEC to ensure that adequate security personnel were deployed to riverine areas during elections.
According to him, riverine areas are where riggings take place.
“I really hope that INEC will be just as it has proclaimed because candidates in riverine areas faced difficulties in April 2011 election.
“There were series of malpractices ranging from ballot box snatching and stuffing.
“The electorate were not left out as politicians spent their money to buy their votes. This should be taken care of,” Koroede said.