Wabara lists expectations from INEC in future polls
From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri
SENATE President, Adolphus Wabara, yesterday charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct more credible elections in future.
Speaking at a two-day workshop organised by INEC in Owerri, Imo State capital, Wabara said what Nigerians expect from INEC is credible polls that will usher in democratic government and be acceptable to all the stakeholders.
His words: "Even when it is true that elections do not necessarily translate into democracy, it is not possible to have democracy without having elections. Democracy must translate into concrete dividends for the people and it must grow and develop to that level that is called democratic consolidation.
"It is important that the government should be seen as legitimate and its mandate should be seen as freely given"
Speaking on the problems of organising elections in Nigeria, Wabara said: "It is more difficult to organise free and fair elections in a young democracy because the institutions are usually fragile and because the democratic spirit takes time to grow. That, however, should not be an excuse for not trying or for not trying hard enough.
"It is very important to underscore the fact that the electorate and the political actors must have confidence in the electoral system for democracy to survive. All voters must be sure that their votes count and the losers must be sure that they were not rigged out".
Also, Wabara said in playing the role of an umpire in the nation's polls, INEC should not just claim to be unbiased but should be seen as such.
He said INEC enjoys financial autonomy from the consolidated revenue fund and so, should play better role in the nation's democratic process.
The Senate president stressed the need to resolve the various disputes arising from the conduct of past elections and avoid violence by accepting the rulings of the electoral tribunals.
In his address, the National Chairman of INEC, Dr. Abel Guobadia, also stressed the need for the country to continue to have free and fair elections.
According to him, to ensure more credible elections in the country, there must be a return to the traditional values of integrity and honesty.
Meanwhile, to return to our traditional values of integrity and honesty is to build and consolidate stronger foundations for nation's democracy", he said.
The theme of the workshop is "Building Confidence in Nigeria's Electoral System".
Governor Achike Udenwa, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Ebere Udeagu, said his government would continue to assist INEC in doing its job.
He called for improvement in the conduct of future elections, urging the participants to make the best of the knowledge they will gather to improve on the nation's electoral process.
In his speech, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo State, Moses Ogbe, said the workshop was organised by the commission to have a preview and post-view of elections.
Though the Coalition of registered Political Parties in Imo State had indicated plan to boycott the workshop because of their loss of confidence in INEC, the venue of the event was filled to capacity.
