curator
Administrator
A human rights lawyer, Mr Bamidele Aturu, on Tuesday faulted the Nov. 16 governorship elections in Anambra and called for its cancellation.
Aturu made the call on Tuesday in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
NAN reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the election as “inconclusive”.
Three candidates, Dr Chris Ngige of All Progressive Congress, Mr Tony Nwoye of Peoples Democratic Party and Mr Ifeanyi Ubah of Labour Party had earlier called for its cancellation.
Aturu blamed the INEC for lapses recorded during the election, adding that the electoral body should have done a better job.
Given the huge disenfranchisement of voters in that election, the proper thing to do is to cancel it.
Ordinarily, no self-respecting fellow should want to be declared as the winner of that exercise, as there was indeed no election so-properly called.
"In the words of Lord Stephenson, an election which is conducted in violation of the principles of an election by ballot is no real election and should be declared void,” Aturu said.
The lawyer, however, said that some of the politicians who were demanding the cancellation of the election were doing so because they were not favoured by its outcome.
According to him, some of them would have perpetrated worse rigging if they had their way.
Aturu also said that the Anambra election had re-emphasised the need for Nigerians to be politically vigilant in order to turn the fortunes of the country around.
Aturu made the call on Tuesday in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
NAN reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the election as “inconclusive”.
Three candidates, Dr Chris Ngige of All Progressive Congress, Mr Tony Nwoye of Peoples Democratic Party and Mr Ifeanyi Ubah of Labour Party had earlier called for its cancellation.
Aturu blamed the INEC for lapses recorded during the election, adding that the electoral body should have done a better job.
Given the huge disenfranchisement of voters in that election, the proper thing to do is to cancel it.
Ordinarily, no self-respecting fellow should want to be declared as the winner of that exercise, as there was indeed no election so-properly called.
"In the words of Lord Stephenson, an election which is conducted in violation of the principles of an election by ballot is no real election and should be declared void,” Aturu said.
The lawyer, however, said that some of the politicians who were demanding the cancellation of the election were doing so because they were not favoured by its outcome.
According to him, some of them would have perpetrated worse rigging if they had their way.
Aturu also said that the Anambra election had re-emphasised the need for Nigerians to be politically vigilant in order to turn the fortunes of the country around.