CNPP Tells Parties To Boycott Supplementary Election in Anambra

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Thursday, November 28th, 2013

…Asks Jega to make public his travel log in October

Ignatius Okpara, Lagos

Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has called on political parties to boycott the supplementary election fixed by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra State on Saturday, November 30th .

INEC Chairman Pro. Attahiru Jega

The Professor Atahiru Jega led electoral body had scheduled the supplementary polls in about 30 wards, following alleged irregularities that marred the November 16 governorship election in the state, which led to the cancellation of scores of validly casted votes.

CNPP in a statement on Thursday through its National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, called on political parties to boycott the supplementary election ‘”so as not to unwittingly legitimize an illegality’.

According to the statement,”CNPP made the call on the premise that it had lost confidence on INEC Chairman, Prof. Atahiru Jega and no amount of lame excuses by the eminent professor and his cohorts would justify or rationalise the sham election.

The statement made available to African Examiner in Enugu reads further: “CNPP disagrees totally with Jega’s platitudes that, ‘We had expected Anambra election to be the best, but unfortunately it was not. We did our best, however, from all indications; our best doesn’t seem good enough. This is why we have gone back and asked ourselves, how can we continue to do our best so as to meet public expectations?

“We have resolved that no matter what, we shall retain our sanity and remain focused. I have and will continue to tell Nigerians that there is no need for us to panic at this time.’

“We have reasons to panic, for the United States National Intelligence Agency and other pundits had predicted that our dear country will fall apart in 2015 and Nigeria since after the civil war has never been as divided as now.

“Our panic therefore is can we in all honesty entrust the sensitive 2015 general elections to Professor Attahiru Jega?“The question remains, if the eminent professor cannot successfully conduct a single Anambra State governorship election; what are the guarantees that he can successfully conduct a multi-election – State House of Assembly, Federal House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship and Presidential elections the group asked?

“Lets we forget that it was the denial of Forensic Audit to re-examine the 2011 presidential election materials by a less than transparent tribunal that camouflaged the gross incapacity or complicity of Professor Jega”. CNPP stated.

“Alternatively, the umbrella body of all registered political parties, challenged Professor Jega to make public his travel log in October from Nigeria-Mexico-US-Nigeria and his public and private meetings therein.

It also challenged the Inspector General of the Police, Abubakar Mohammed to make public the Interrogation Report of the INEC Idemili North Electoraol Officer, Chukwujekwu Okeke, his telephone calls and text messages few days before and on 16 November 2013.