*Says anything short, portends danger to democracy
*Admits INEC processes recorded shortcomings
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Pan Yoruba socio political organization, Afenifere on Tuesday, warned that anything short of allowing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do its constitutionally – assigned job may constitute a serious danger to Nigeria democracy.
Afenifere raised the alarm in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi
The Pan Yoruba socio political organization maintained that the alarm was as a result of a statement credited to former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in which he demanded for the stoppage of the Presidential Election Results being made by INEC
Afenifere also recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Labour Party, LP and African Democratic Congress, ADC, at a Press Conference in Abuja on Tuesday, also called for the suspension of the electoral process and further demanded for the resignation of the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
It maintained that though the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly Elections held on February 25 might have some shortcomings, the perceived shortcomings “do not constitute enough grounds to truncate the entire process.
” The ongoing announcement of election results should be concluded. Those who are not satisfied either with the process or the outcome can seek redress through the paths outlined by the law – Elections Tribunal and the Court”, it said.
Pan Yoruba socio political organization added ” INEC must be allowed a free reign to do its Constitutionally-assigned job as anything short of that may constitute a serious danger to the hard-earned civil rule that we are presently operating” .
” Anything short of that may lead to the truncation of the democracy we are practising now.”
Cautioning politicians against setting the country literally ablaze through their inciting utterances and actions , Afenifere stressed ” in elections, just as in sports, there would always be winners and losers”.
“When and where you win, be magnanimous. In the same vein, where and when you lose, be calm and accept it as your fate. ‘You lose some and gain some’ to quote a common cliche.”
Afenifere then called on Nigerians, especially youths, not to allow themselves to be lured into what may plunge the country into anarchy, saying, ” let this electoral process be successfully concluded so that we can have a smooth transfer of power on May 29 this year”.
