The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), a coalition of civil society anti-corruption campaigners, has sent a Freedom of Information demand to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), asking for the unmasking and prosecution of all those revealed at the Magistrate Court in Abuja by Chukwujekwu Okeke, an official of the commission, as being involved in the compromised Anambra election.
In a petition to the commission, CSNAC said it was surprised to read that Okeke was arraigned on a mere charge of dereliction of duty despite overwhelming evidence of financial inducement, as evidenced by suspicious transactions in his bank account hours to the controversial election.
It said the single charge amounted to a ploy to reduce the matter to a one-man act and by extension, shield those behind the financial transaction from facing the music.
“Sir, you have at several occasions acknowledged and admitted, on behalf of the Commission, untoward sharp practices and compromises, involving staff of the Commission, characterizing the recent inconclusive Anambra election of 16th November, 2013,” the petition said. “Some of the identified conscious act of sabotage during the elections according to you and other observes include; Late arrival of voting materials and INEC officials in 65 polling units in Obosi which resulted in rescheduling of election; None delivery of voting materials in some communities; messing up distribution of electoral materials by the electoral Officer in charge of Idemili North for inexplicable reasons; and disenfranchising of voters by the official.”
CSNAC further observed that a fundamental problem in Nigeria’s democracy project since independence is not only to secure the workability of political institutions but the recruitment of political actors with a temperament that is congruent with the behavioral requirements of democratic institutions. It added that as a group, it has resolved to pursue every available legitimate means of ensuring that corruption ends in Nigeria and that corrupt official are made to face the consequences of their action.
In a petition to the commission, CSNAC said it was surprised to read that Okeke was arraigned on a mere charge of dereliction of duty despite overwhelming evidence of financial inducement, as evidenced by suspicious transactions in his bank account hours to the controversial election.
It said the single charge amounted to a ploy to reduce the matter to a one-man act and by extension, shield those behind the financial transaction from facing the music.
“Sir, you have at several occasions acknowledged and admitted, on behalf of the Commission, untoward sharp practices and compromises, involving staff of the Commission, characterizing the recent inconclusive Anambra election of 16th November, 2013,” the petition said. “Some of the identified conscious act of sabotage during the elections according to you and other observes include; Late arrival of voting materials and INEC officials in 65 polling units in Obosi which resulted in rescheduling of election; None delivery of voting materials in some communities; messing up distribution of electoral materials by the electoral Officer in charge of Idemili North for inexplicable reasons; and disenfranchising of voters by the official.”
CSNAC further observed that a fundamental problem in Nigeria’s democracy project since independence is not only to secure the workability of political institutions but the recruitment of political actors with a temperament that is congruent with the behavioral requirements of democratic institutions. It added that as a group, it has resolved to pursue every available legitimate means of ensuring that corruption ends in Nigeria and that corrupt official are made to face the consequences of their action.
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