By Abdallah el-Kurebe
Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar has said that given present structures of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ,the electoral umpire was not completely independent.
Answering questions from news men in Sokoto Thursday during the occasion of inauguration and inspection of projects constructed by Sokoto state government, the former vice president further said that INEC’s structures threatens Nigerians’ quest for free, fair and credible election.
“I have my reservation about the structures of INEC because even though it is said to be independent, it is not yet independent,” Atiku said.
On voter registration, he said that there was no need for INEC to limit the time for registration as this could disenfranchise many Nigerians from the opportunity to exercise their civil rights.
“There are a number of complaints in the sense that there are quite a number of people who are qualified to register but have not been given the opportunity to register. I think INEC should review that situation. There is no point limiting the time for registration to the extent that we disenfranchise those who are eligible to vote,” Atiku stressed.
He observed that the country required change which his party, the. All Progressive Party (APC) was, according to him, most positioned to provide.
“There are quite a number of things that require change. First and foremost, we have to restore security, stability and peace in our country. We will then fix structural adjustment in the country,” he said adding, “You know that the APC is the most popular party in the country today. Because Nigerians are yearning for a change. We are prepared to bring change.”
