By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Less than 48 hours to the Edo State Governorship Election billed for Saturday, September 19, 2020, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), has said elections in Nigeria will continue to be a do or die affairs until Electoral Reforms Act is amended.
This is the views of NBA 1st Vice President, John Aikponkpo-Martin while speaking Thursday on the topic; “Preparations and Plans to Ensure a Free Poll in Nigeria” on Channels Television breakfast show “Sunrise Daily”.
He also argued that the electoral processes will continue to be compromised as long as such election materials like Card Reader Machines (CRM) are not recognised by Nigerian law.
The NBA top official who said he is embedded in Edo state to monitor the
Edo Governorship Election on Saturday stated that politicians will continue to explore the loopholes in the country’s electoral law to subvert the will of the people.
According to him, “until the Electoral Reforms Act is amended, elections will continue to be flawed. The politicians will always look for the loopholes and will stop at nothing to pull the fast one on the electorates”.
Aikponkpo-Martin however blamed the ruling of Supreme Court of Nigeria which did not recognise the use of Card Readers to conduct elections in Nigeria by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for most of the problems currently bedevilling the conduct of elections in Nigeria.
The NBA chieftain is therefore advocating for a quick passage and signing into law of a new Electoral Reforms Act which he argued will address most of the Electoral Malpractices witnessed in our electoral system.
