*Says all eyes on INEC
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
A chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo on Sunday, said the outcome of two off- cycle elections in Edo and Ondo State would determine what to expect in the 2027 general elections in Nigeria.
Ambassador Ajadi in a statement tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be fair and upright on its conducts of two off- cycle elections.
According to the NNPP Chieftain, Nigerians are watching the INEC warning that its conduct in the two electrons will be a pointer to what to expect in 2027 general elections.
Emphasizing that INEC should be painstaking and handled the two off- cycle elections in the two states well, Ambassador Ajadi said this will boost Nigerians’ confidence in the 2027 general elections.
“INEC’ s conduct in the two off cycle elections in Edo and Ondo States will be a pointer to what to expect in 2027 general elections. I am therefore counselling our electoral umpire to let the results in the two elections reflect the actual decisions of the electorate”, he said.
Ambassador Ajadi added, ” INEC should showcase its independence like its name suggests.If the conduct and the results of the two elections failed to reflect people’s wishes, then the country is doomed”.
” Bad conducts of the two elections may set the country on fire as those who are looking to use the 2027 general elections to remove those not doing well in governments at different level will feel disillusioned.
He stressed “”God forbid. INEC should not damm people’s hope. Professor Mahmood Yakubu should write his name in gold with a good performance in the two elections.
The Ogun State NNPP gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 general elections advised INEC to put its integrity at stake and conducts the two elections well to buoy the people’s interest in the next general elections in 2027, adding that people’s reactions in the coming weeks on the election will judge whether the election was well conducted or not.
” A situation where the courts upturned the results of our elections is not the best. INEC is the election umpire and its decision should be fair. INEC should wear a transparent apparel and display honesty and diligence in the conducts of off cycle elections as this would boost its image.
“I also implore the National Assembly to approve enough resources for INEC to succeed and get prepared for the 2027 elections”.
