PDP , INEC, Jega and Jonathan , over to you 

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Lagos AC Insists On New Voter’s Register for 2011

Written by Joe Igbokwe
Thursday, 22 July 2010 10:18



The Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress has described the insistence of INEC to conduct the up coming 2011 election with the old, discredited INEC voters register is suspicious and a pointer that the new INEC wants to bungle another historical opportunity to break through the vicious circle of electoral fraud. It says that by that statement, Nigerians should watch the new INEC to ensure it doesn’t treat Nigerians to yet another jamboree in 2011. In a release in Lagos, signed by the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the AC, Joe Igbokwe, Lagos AC says that the statement portends bad omen to the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians for a free and fair election in 2011. It says that any credible election must be predicated on a credible and authentic voter’s register that will represent the authentic Nigerians voters.

“Like many Nigerians, we are shocked that the new INEC leadership heralded into office by tremendous goodwill from Nigerians, is already behaving as if it wants to continue on the sad and murky paths charted by the immediate past odious INEC leadership. We wonder how a credible INEC leadership could place any premium at all on a concocted register that contained frivolous, fictitious names and which has been an object of ribaldry by Nigerians. A voter’s register that contains names such as Muhammed Alli, Mike Tyson, Michael Jackson, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton is only a sick forgery that was meant to concoct victory for the PDP and it served that purpose while the tenure of the past INEC leadership lasted. We are confused that the Jega led INEC is thinking too seriously of this macabre forgery and are thinking of conducting the next election based on this register.

“Lagos AC has not minced words that elections are rigged on a foundation laid by a faulty voter’s register and the one with which the farcical 2007 elections was conducted stands out in this faulty case. We believe that any electoral body that wants to conduct a free and impeccable election must start its work from a clean registration of voters. Trying to work with the so-called existing voter’s register is like pouring new wine in an old and rotten wineskin. We are even surprised that Isiaka Adeleke, one of the people whose names have featured prominently in election rigging in Osun and Ekiti State was foretelling us with a frightening finality the other day that INEC will never carry out a new voter’s registration before the 2011 election. We hope the new INEC is not being teleguided by those who do not want a free and fair election in Nigeria for their corrupt interests.

“We strongly believe that any electoral body that is desirous of conducting a free and fair election has enough time to conduct a credible voter’s register so that we can have a true picture of the real voters in Nigeria. We refuse to accept the sloppy excuse that we don’t have enough time for a new voter’s register before the general election. We hope the new INEC leadership is not deliberately laying the foundation for another massive electoral fraud in 2011. We urge Nigerians to be watchful and ensure the present INEC delivers on the promise to give Nigerians a very credible election in 2011. We call for increased vigilance from Nigerians both on the INEC and the federal government if we want to break the sash of faulty electoral conducts in 2011.”



Joe Igbokwe

I agree with AC on this, however it is almost impossible to update the register now without extending the election date. So where do we stand?

Nigeria and our ways of doing things

na_so:


I agree with AC on this, however it is almost impossible to update the register now without extending the election date. So where do we stand?

I would support a sensible extension of the election date if it would mean a credible voters register can be in place to move us closer to free and fair elections. It is not essential we have election at a certain time next year but it is vital , given the state of our nation, that Nigerians are able to vote in men and women who can secure the progress we badly need. In other words , a few months delay is a sensible trade-off for free and fair elections.

If Nigerians insist that elections go ahead with a dodgy voters register then the results of the elections will be a foregone conclusion in favour of the 'business-as-usual' crew. The likes of Alao-Akala, despite his abject performance, will 'win' another four year he can use to further deepen the misery of Oyo citizens.

In any case , the Ac think that a credible voters register can still be collated in the time left. I tend to believe them . If the political will is there then things can move rapidly.

“We strongly believe that any electoral body that is desirous of conducting a free and fair election has enough time to conduct a credible voter’s register so that we can have a true picture of the real voters in Nigeria.

na_so:


I agree with AC on this, however it is almost impossible to update the register now without extending the election date. So where do we stand?

So long as extension of election date does not mean extension of handover date thats fine.

But the most important thing is a new voter Registeration process must Start First. They can simply withdraw all youth corpers this year from their Primary Assignment and use them to concentrate exclusively on Voter Registration.

We can extend the election as long as we are getting it right.

I think making sure to get it right this time should be of utmost importance. I really don't understand why Jega would not see fit to overhaul the current voters register.

Kobojunkie:

I think making sure to get it right this time should be of utmost importance. I really don't understand why Jega would not see fit to overhaul the current voters register.

My sentiments too. I really don't know what to make of Jega . I am not sure that Jonathan , working on the advice of the numerous seasoned  election riggers he has surrounded himself with , has not deliberately targeted a "man of integrity" he is sure will be overwhelmed by the occasion and the grandeur/reward of 'rolling with the big boys in the big league' .

Jega announced that a credible voters register will be in place before the next election. All of a sudden , and after meeting Jonathan in  'private' , we are told INEC will now proceed with the same discredited register that led to "one of the worst elections (2007) in World history " . I see a repeat of 2007 next year unless Nigerians resist it . God willing , I will be here relating what I see at polling stations to Nairalanders.

The time is not short to compile a new voters register if the govt of Goodluck is sincere in what they have been saying about free and fair election.
What we need is the cash (we can even borrow if we don't have now or buy the machines or gadgets on credit from the manufacturers). If we traverse the whole world we will get the required numbers.
I want to beg INEC to also register those of us in the diaspora and allow us to vote even if our votes will not be used in Nigeria. At least it will serve as shodow votes.
NIGERIANS MUST NOT ACCEPT ANY EXCUSE FROM ANYONE ABOUT WHY A NEW REGISTER CANNOT BE COMPILED.
Jega should honourably resign if he is sure he is not getting the necessary cooperatoon from the govt. Then the country will have the opportunity to split into fragments as advised by Gaddafi, come May 2011. I HOPE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ANYWAY.
I like the only popular name the world know us for 'THE MOST POPULOUS BLACK NATION IN THE WORLD'