Humans Right International charges INEC, security agencies on Munya Bye Election

By: TUNDE BOLAJI MINNA.

‎The International Human Rights Commission- Relief Fund (IHRC-RF) Nigeria Chapter, under its Country Director, Abdullahi Bakoji Adamu has called on all parties in Saturday’s Munya State House of Assembly bye election to conduct themselves and adhere strictly to electoral laws.

The Niger State Director of IHRC, Comrade Shoo’aibu Awaisu Wana, who made the call on Friday in Minna, the Niger state capital, warned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Nigerian Police Force, political parties, and their agents against violating the laws guiding free, fair, and credible elections.

He said the organization will deploy its assets and personnel to strictly monitor the exercise and ensure compliance with international standards and approved laws.

‎The state director said the voters in Munya deserve a conducive and secure environment to fully exercise their franchise, devoid of intimidation and influences from the state, security agencies, and party agents, calling on the police and other security agencies not to interfere with or alter the results during and after the election.

Shu’aibu Awaisu Wana said the Saturday’s Munya bye election will demonstrate INEC’s preparation for the 2027 general election, revealing that the international community and local election observers will see whether the shortcomings and hitches that characterized the last 2023 elections have been fixed by INEC.

‎He said votes must be counted in an open and transparent manner and all collation of results must tally with that of polling units, stressing that INEC and security agencies must protect the sacred choice of the people to engender confidence in the system.

“this election will demonstrate to everyone including the international and local election observers that the flaws witnessed in the last election has been mended by INEC and we’re going to see improvements,” Awaisu Wana noted.

‎Calling on the electorates to remain focused and come out en-masse to vote for their preferred candidate, Shooaibu Wana warned them not to sell their votes and be cowed by corrupt politicians who want power by all means.

He said such attitude will continue to derail democracy, weaken its institutions and make the country a laughing stock among the comity of nations.