The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has expressed strong condemnation regarding the alleged partisan conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the recent governorship election in Ekiti State.
The CRPP highlighted the concerning sight of the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, wearing an INEC vest and reportedly engaging in election observation activities.
This is contained in a statement, signed by Dr. Samson Isibor, National Chairman, and Hon. Nkama Waribe, National Secretary of CRPP, who emphasized that such actions undermine the integrity and neutrality of Nigeria’s electoral process.
Isibor raised critical concerns about INEC’s independence, reinforcing public apprehensions about the electoral body’s compromised status.
He said, “For an individual who occupies a strategic leadership position in the ruling APC to be adorned in official INEC identification during an election is a disgraceful development that undermines public confidence in the democratic process.
“It sends a wrong signal to Nigerians and creates the unfortunate impression that there is no longer a clear distinction between the ruling party and the institution constitutionally empowered to conduct free, fair, and credible elections.
“The CRPP finds it unacceptable that INEC could permit such a glaring conflict of interest and gross violation of the principles of electoral neutrality.
“The Commission owes Nigerians an immediate explanation regarding the circumstances that led to this unfortunate incident and the role, if any, played by Mr. Tenebe in the conduct of the election.
“We therefore hold the Chairman of INEC, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan( SAN) responsible for the steady erosion of public trust in the Commission.
‘Under his watch, INEC has repeatedly failed to inspire confidence among political stakeholders, while allegations of bias, selective application of electoral rules, and undue influence by the ruling party continue to gain traction.’
Meanwhile the Publicity Secretary of the party, Bar Uwadiae Igbinigie,said that Tenebe, did not breach any protocol by serving as an election observer.
In reaction to the criticisms by political observers, Igbinigie, who described the condemnations as political gimmick that does not hold water.
“Those who are criticizing him should tell us the law he has breached, the protocol he has broken, or the offence he has committed.”
According to him, anybody can serve as an election observer in any election, noting that Jarret neither interfered with the process nor disrupted the procedures during the election.
