The Chairman of the Lagos State Labor Party (LP), Dayo Ekon, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of undermining the democratic will of Nigerians.
She lamented that a pattern of betrayal by electoral institutions was becoming increasingly evident.
Citing the 2023 presidential election and the recently concluded gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo states, she said the commission’s repeated “compromises” have resulted in “foxes not just being in the chicken coop; He claimed that it had become clear that he was running a company.
Econ revealed his reservations in a statement released Tuesday.
She alleged that INEC’s repeated failures were the product of corruption orchestrated in collaboration with the ruling party.
Mr Ekong denounced this "unholy alliance”, saying it puts power over the people, ambition over responsibility and selfish interests over the national interest.
She said: “Despite promises to introduce technology to increase transparency, we have witnessed brazen manipulation of results, delays in uploading critical data and a lack of accountability to address concerns raised by political parties and the public.” I made it.
“Nigerians were hoping this would be a lesson for future polls, but instead there was a pattern of betrayal in Edo and Ondo states where fraud, voter suppression and overt partisanship were on full display. was repeated.
“INEC’s actions, or lack thereof, raise serious questions about its independence.
“Collusion with the ruling party to subvert the will of the people sets a dangerous precedent and undermines not only elections but the very fabric of our democracy.”
The LP Chair stressed that the appointment process must be overhauled to ensure that only individuals with impeccable integrity and non-partisan backgrounds are given the sacred mandate to oversee elections.
To ensure transparency, she suggested that civil society organizations and trusted stakeholders should play a role in vetting these appointments.
“Those found guilty of manipulating election results, engaging in voter suppression, or colluding with political actors at all levels must receive harsh penalties that serve as a deterrent.
“This is not just a fight for the Labor Party, but for every Nigerian who believes in the power of their vote and the promise of democracy,” Ekon said.
She called on civil society organizations, including the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC), to realize their responsibilities.
