The Labour Party (LP) has called on the INEC to recommend sanctions for Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) who act against the rules.
This follows the recent controversy surrounding the former REC in Adamawa, Hudu Yunusa Ari, who defied the Chief Returning Officer, Mele Lamido, and announced the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate, Senator Aishatu Dahiru, as the winner before collation had been concluded.
Bellnewsonline.com reports that INEC swiftly took action by annulling Ari’s actions, suspending him, and writing to the Presidency to get him sacked. The commission appointed Mele Lamido to conclude the collation, and he subsequently announced Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, as the winner. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of Nigeria’s democratic process.
Reacting to this, the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Pastor Obiora Ifoh, stated that the INEC can only recommend sanctions for erring RECs since the President has the responsibility of appointing them.
The Labour Party spokesman said, “Since the President, based on an Act of the National Assembly, remains the appointing and confirming authority for RECs, the best INEC can do with respect to serious disciplinary action is to make recommendations.”