By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has been congratulated on his victory at the governorship election held last Saturday.
In a statement, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) charged him to fulfil the promises he made to the electorates during his electioneering campaign.
However, the group expressed concerns over the declining voter turnout in the elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying efforts must be made to restore “the integrity of our electoral process to ensure the sustainability of our democracy.”
CNPP emphasised the need for “our leaders to address the underlying issues eroding public trust in our democratic institutions.”
It stated that only 24.8 per cent of the registered voters participated in the exercise, which was marred by vote-buying and others.
“We urge the relevant authorities to take decisive action against those involved in vote-buying and other electoral malpractices,” the CNPP emphasised.
The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria also noted that the near-total loss of faith in the judicial process in Nigeria poses a significant threat to democracy as a system of government.
“It is morally bankrupt for leaders who cannot supervise free, fair, and credible elections to hail the outcomes of transparent elections elsewhere,” the organisation noted.
The CNPP called for the strengthening of INEC’s independence to operate independently and be free from undue influence.