INEC Must Convince Us It Is Capable Of Conducting Free, Fair Elections — Olawepo

INEC Must Convince Us It Is Capable Of Conducting Free, Fair Elections —Olawepo-Hashim

Presidential
candidate of the Peoples Trust (PT), Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, speaks on
the readiness of the party to dislodge the old order in the presidential
election and the four key zones his party is set to win. He also
addresses the challenges ahead of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC). Group Politics Editor, Taiwo Adisa, presents the
excerpts:

WE have two weeks to the presidential election
and the issue that has been resonating has been the allegations from
some parties about lack of readiness for free and fair elections both by
INEC and the administration. What are your views concerning these
issues?
I think it is worrying that a number of parties are not
comfortable with the preparation and I think the INEC people who are
supposed to be the umpires have to go the extra mile to give comfort to
the various actors in the process. It is their responsibility to do so.
But it’s not just enough to make statements to say what you are saying
is not true. You have to be seen to be taking practical steps that are
deliberate, symbolic, and institutional; to give comfort and when people
see the comfort, they know. So, it is the duty of INEC to give comfort.
If they cannot do so, they would have failed in their responsibility
and that is the responsibility they owe this country. When they were
confirmed by the Senate, they were all screened individually. Somebody
must have nominated them as commissioners and what have you, but
ultimately, they owe their duty to Nigeria not to any group of persons.

This
is a very important election that is going to happen and I think that
there is going to be individual and corporate responsibilities for the
actions or inactions of people who are in agencies or institutions. In
the event that their actions lead to breakdown of law and order, they
are going to be held individually responsible by history and not just
history, by friends of Nigeria globally who are interested in the peace
and stability of this country. So, nobody should think that they can
hide under anonymity. This is what most of our development partners are
going to be looking at. We have seen in countries and even in the days
of our struggle for democracy. We requested for officers who were
conducting themselves in manners that are not in sync with global
practices, to be put under sanctions. So, INEC officials can be
sanctioned. A lot of countries can refuse them entry as a result of
their actions. Their properties can be frozen. If anyone of them does
anything that leads to breakdown of law and order, they can even be
taken to The Hague and sent to prison for life because Nigeria is a
signatory to a lot of global instruments that expects some minimum
standard of decency and conduct from public officers. So, they should
not just think that they can do anything and get away with it. They
can’t just anything and get away with it, whether you are a police
officer or army officer. There is not going to be limit for
accountability for your actions. Even the people they are helping to win
the elections, they have a limited tenure after which they will go. But
there is no limit in statue for people giving accounts, especially
under the various instruments that Nigeria has signed. In ten years, you
can still be called to give account of your role and you will still
suffer the consequence. It’s not just enough to say that I can behave
anyhow, as long as the person I want comes in. In 10, 20 year’s time you
can still pay.

Source:- Tribuneonlineng