By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
With about 100 days to the 2023 general election, the former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Akwa Ibom state, Barrister Mike Igini has alleged that Nigerian politicians are the greatest threat to the country’s democracy.
This is even as he posited that the recent upsurge in electoral violence and several attacks on INEC offices nationwide are being perpetuated by desperate politicians whom he also accused of misinformation, disinformation and use of violence to achieve their nefarious aims.
Igini who was a guest of Arise News breakfast programme The Morning Show monitored by Prompt News Online reporter in Abuja on Wednesday accused the country’s political class of employing terror as a weapon to win elections.
Said he: ‘the political class want to use violence, misinformation, disinformation and every available terror-tactic to win elections next year. In fact, Nigerian politicians are the greatest threat to our democracy because they can go to any length to subvert the processes leading to a free, fair and credible elections.
“I am convinced that they are responsible for the rising incidents of electoral violence and attacks on INEC offices across the country. They simply want to disrupt the elections because they are already afraid they are going to lose woefully “.
According to Igini his 10 years experience as REC has shown him that Nigerian politicians are the most difficult persons to deal with, pointing out that they are too crafty and will do anything unconstitutional including blackmail to achieve their self end.
The outspoken former REC however said that the Electoral Act 2022 has empowered the electoral umpire to deliver a free and fair elections especially with the deployment of technology to conduct the elections going forward.
“I want to believe the present INEC leadership has the will to conduct a free, fair and credible elections because the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC Election Guidelines have the Commission unfettered powers to deploy technology in the conduct of the general election.
“We cannot afford not to get it right in 2023 because there is anger in the land and there is hunger in the country hence the 2023 general election is very critical for the survival of Nigeria. It is unlike any other election in the country”, Igini insists.
He however said that with the deployment of technological devices like Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Results Viewing Portals (iREV) on the election days, Nigerians have owned the electoral process.
Said he: “Hope is reborn in Nigeria with the introduction of technology to drive our elections. Now, power resides with the people and it is domiciled in the Polling Units. By February 25, power will be domiciled in Polling Units. Politicians planning to rig the 2023 general election will lose woefully”.
Igini therefore urged Nigerians to go out now to check up their names in the INEC Voter Registers currently on display at various electoral wards across the country before it will later be taken to the 774 local government areas of the country.
He also said every eligible voter should use the window to check if their names are in the voter register which is the first step to voting in a credible presidential candidate who will fix Nigeria.
