CRPP Faults INEC Open Partisan Conduct In Ekiti Elections ...Condemns Edo APC Chairman For Wearing INEC Vest













CRPP Faults INEC Open Partisan Conduct In Ekiti Elections 

...Condemns Edo APC Chairman For Wearing INEC Vest

Iduozee Efe Paul, Benin 

‎
‎The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP), strongly faulted and condemned the manner of  disturbing and embarrassing spectacle of the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, seen wearing an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) vest and allegedly partaking in election observation activities during Saturday's governorship election in Ekiti State.



This followed a statement signed and  issued by
‎Dr. Samson Isibor the 
National ‎Chairman, and 
‎Hon. Nkama Waribe, the 
‎National Secretary, of CRPP said 
‎the development is not only shocking but represents a dangerous assault on the integrity, neutrality, and credibility of Nigeria's electoral process.
‎
‎The Coalition posited that the unfortunate situation raised serious questions about the independence of INEC and further validates growing public concerns that the electoral umpire has become compromised and increasingly partisan.
‎
"‎For an individual who occupies a strategic leadership position in the ruling APC to be adorned in official INEC identification during an election is a disgraceful development that undermines public confidence in the democratic process. 
‎
‎"It sends a wrong signal to Nigerians and creates the unfortunate impression that there is no longer a clear distinction between the ruling party and the institution constitutionally empowered to conduct free, fair, and credible elections.
‎
"‎The CRPP finds it unacceptable that INEC could permit such a glaring conflict of interest and gross violation of the principles of electoral neutrality. 
‎
"‎The Commission owed Nigerians an immediate explanation regarding the circumstances that led to this unfortunate incident and the role, if any, played by Mr. Tenebe in the conduct of the election.
‎
"‎We therefore hold the Chairman of INEC, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, is
‎ responsible for the steady erosion of public trust in the Commission. 
‎
"‎Under his watch, INEC has repeatedly failed to inspire confidence among political stakeholders, while allegations of bias, selective application of electoral rules, and undue influence by the ruling party continue to gain traction," statement added.
‎
‎According to the coalition, it asserted that the Ekiti incident has further reinforced the widespread belief that the APC has effectively captured key democratic institutions, including INEC, thereby compromising the transparency and credibility of elections in Nigeria.


‎The CRPP further demanded a comprehensive probe into the circumstances surrounding the participation of Emperor Jarrett Tenebe in the Ekiti governorship election.

The coalition explained that democracy cannot thrive where the electoral umpire is perceived as an extension of the ruling party.


‎The statement proceeded," the Coalition of Registered Political Parties hereby declares that it has lost confidence in the ability of the present leadership of INEC to guarantee a level playing field for all political parties ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
‎
"‎We call on civil society organisations, the international community, election observers, and all lovers of democracy to pay close attention to the dangerous signals emerging from Nigeria's electoral environment. 
‎
"‎Democracy cannot thrive where the electoral umpire is perceived as an extension of the ruling party.
‎
"‎The CRPP further demands a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the participation of Emperor Jarrett Tenebe in the Ekiti governorship election and insists that those responsible for this embarrassment to Nigeria's democracy be held accountable.
‎
"‎The integrity of elections remains the cornerstone of democratic governance. Any action capable of diminishing public trust in the electoral process must be resisted by all democratic forces."




END


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