Moses Ofodeme
The Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, has called for a free and fair elections in the upcoming Federal Capital Territory, elections.
Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), Chairman of the TMG, in a statement expressed worries about the incessant non-credible council polls in Nigeria and the level of voter apathy demonstrated by the Nigerian electorates across council elections in the country.
Musa, however stated that the TMG is confident that the FCT council elections will represent a sharp departure from the norm and set a standard for subsequent local level elections in Nigeria especially as it is overseen directly by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The TMG therefore called on FCT residents in the six Area Councils to come out in mass to participate in the forthcoming area council elections.
“It is imperative for residents to understand that non-participation in the electoral process through voter apathy gives ample opportunity to those with ulterior motives to hijack the electoral process and thereby imposing unpopular candidates as winners of the elections.
“Citizens must also understand that any form of failure to participate in the voting process by citizens would also represent a direct contribution to poor local council governance as has been seen all over the country. Elections are a democratic channel for citizens to choose credible leaders, hence, TMG is reminding the FCT residents of their civic duty to elect credible leaders at the forthcoming Area Council elections in the FCT. A participatory election does not only produce popular leaders but also gives electorates the powers to hold and demand accountability from elected leaders.” Musa said.
In addition, he added, “Particularly, the women and youth who have mostly represented the marginalized groups through bad governance must mobilize in mass to participate in the Area Council elections and vote in candidates who they are convinced will represent their interests.”
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure modalities are adequately put in place in all the polling units of the six Area Councils of the FCT to ensure electoral lapses are not recorded in the pre voting, voting and counting stages of the election, adding, “While TMG holds confidence on INEC to conduct a free, fair and credible elections, the Commission is also reminded of the peculiarity of the FCT and thereby conduct an election worthy of emulation in subsequent council polls across the country.”