2015: PDM Warns INEC Against Disenfranchising States Under Emergency Rule

JEGA-INECThe recently registered Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against disenfranchising the people of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States in the 2015 general elections.

The warning comes on the heels of a comment attributed to INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega that elections might not hold in the three states where a state of emergency imposed by the Federal Government is still in force except the security situation improves for the better.

Governors of the affected states – Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Kashim Shettima (Borno) and Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe) have since kicked against the plan to exclude their states from taking part in the crucial 2015 polls.

The PDM, which reacted to the INEC boss’ comment in a statement signed by its chairman, Malam Bashir Ibrahim on Wednesday, said the electoral umpire should not hide under the guise of emergency rule in the three states to disenfranchise the people.

According to Ibrahim, “Jega’s latest pronouncement is in tandem with the now familiar strategy of the Federal Government to prolong the insurgency in those states.

“The plan is to continue emergency rule and use it as an excuse to disenfranchise millions of voters in that zone because the government knows it cannot win a free and fair election in those states.

“Clearly, there is no love lost between the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan and some sections of the country.

“It is the constitutional duty of government to cater for the welfare and security of its citizenry. Hence, no eligible Nigerian voter should, on account of insecurity not caused by him or her, be excluded from voting in the 2015 polls.

“Let the Federal Government resolve the crisis in the North East and all over country in order to have a peaceful, free and fair general election. We will resist any attempt to disenfranchise Nigerians under any guise.

“Instead of disenfranchising citizens for no fault of theirs, the Peoples Democratic Party-controlled central government should as a matter of urgency, tackle insecurity in the North East”, he said.

The statement also decried what it described as the deliberate stifling of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is currently experiencing paucity of funds to prosecute corruption cases.