Ondo Guber Election: INEC Not Prepared, Says Northern Group

Yerima Shettima, President, AYCF

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reconsider its decision concerning the governorship election in Ondo State holding on Saturday.
INEC had claims it is ready for the election and that only a court can ask it to defer the date of the exercise.
But at a press conference held on Wednesday, Yerima Shettima, the president of the AYCF, said INEC was not fully prepared for the exercise.
It also accused the electoral body of dancing to the tune of its “pay masters”.
According to Shettima, INEC had disappointed Nigerians with its decision to go ahead with the exercise even though it knows of the level of apprehension in the state.
“As concerned Nigerians we are deeply touched and disturbed by the mishandling of the Ondo State re-run elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This electoral body is still having the old, embarrassing image of an unorganized and highly partisan umpire.
“The electoral body has disappointed our compatriots by insisting it would hold elections in Ondo State this Saturday, in total disregard to the charged atmosphere and palpable tension that could trigger a breach of peace in the peaceful state
“It is obvious to many compatriots the elections of Edo and other States were hurriedly done because it was skewed to favour the interest of top ranking officials of INEC and her paymasters,” Shettima said.
He further argued that there is nowhere in the world that an electoral body is given the powers to do as it pleases like in Nigeria.
“There is evidently no justification for this Saturday’s elections in Ondo State because residents have confirmed a deep fear and apprehension over the possible outcome of the elections as INEC is widely believed to be less than prepared for the task ahead.
“From the point that the INEC officials have been evading questions about how stable Ondo State for the elections, it is easy to see the clear and present dangers on the ground.
“We call on all relevant stakeholders, including international election observers, to confront INEC in Ondo State, to avoid abuse of law and order due to a clear lack of preparedness of the electoral body. It makes no sense to endanger the lives of voters simply because INEC has a hidden agenda about the election date,” he said.