Ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, the Eastern Union has played down possibilities of a level playing field for the contestants.
According to the pro-good governance group, the Independent National Election Commission has not convinced Nigerians of any sincerity in handling the country’s electoral processes.
The National President of the EU, Hon Charles Aneke, stated this in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday. He said, “As far as we are concerned, nothing good can come out of Prof Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC.”
Quoting him, “The electoral body has lost the confidence of Nigerians. Since this INEC chairman came to office, he has never got it right: from inconclusive results to outright and barefaced rigging of elections. The electoral body has existed in error.
“The INEC boss missed his last opportunity to deliver and redeem his image during the 2023 general elections.
“He preferred to satisfy his paymasters rather than write his name in the hearts of Nigerians. From the position of INEC at various court proceedings, it is clear to Nigerians that the INEC boss is partisan.”
Aneke, therefore, submitted that the Edo governorship election would only produce a repeat of “what we saw in Imo and Kogi governorship elections respectively”, adding that, “It will just be a replay or playback of those charades; we maintain that no bad tree can bear good fruits, no matter how.”
The movement further accused the Tinubu administration of being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.
In the words of the national president, “The government has settled for ostentatious living at the height of deadly scarcity.
“The government’s economic policies are crafted against the poor masses. That has increased the hardship in the land.
“The government, rather than thinking outside the box, is busy imposing different direct and indirect taxes on the citizens and removing subsidies on household commodities.”