Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa: Enact laws ending off-cycle elections, overhaul INEC leadership – Ohanaeze tells NASS

The apex Igbo sociocultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Monday urged the National Assembly to enact laws that would abolish off-cycle elections in Nigeria.

Ohanaeze lamented that off-cycle elections erode and sap the strength of Nigeria’s democracy.

The organization made the call while expressing displeasure over the alleged irregularities witnessed during Saturday’s off-cycle governorship elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa States.

Condemning the outcome of the election, Ohanaeze called for a total overhaul of the management of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Saturday’s governorship election was marred by widespread voter apathy, vote-buying, violence and the use of compromised and biased INEC electoral officers by politicians to manipulate the electoral process and declare themselves winners through fraudulent means.

Reacting, Ohanaeze lamented that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is a weak institution that urgently needs restructuring.

A statement by Ohanaeze’s factional Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, reads: “The management team, led by Professor Yakubu Mahmood, has failed to ensure free, fair, and credible elections across the three states.

“We demand a complete overhaul of the management team to restore confidence in the electoral process.

“The prevalence of irregularities such as voter apathy, vote buying, violence, and compromised INEC staff has significantly undermined the democratic process in off-cycle elections.

“This situation erodes the trust of the electorate and jeopardizes the very foundation of our democracy. The National Assembly must take immediate action by enacting new laws to end off-cycle elections, as they continue to sap the strength of our democracy.”