CRPP slams INEC for approving APC members as observers in Ekiti poll

BY TITUS AKHIGBE, BENIN

The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for allowing the Edo State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Emperor Jarrett Tenebe to wear an INEC Observer Vest and participating in election monitoring during last Saturday’s governorship poll in Ekiti State.

‎In a terse statement in Benin City by the national ‎chairman, Dr. Samson Isibor and secretary, ‎Hon. Nkama Waribe, the duo said that they have lost confidence in the ability of the present leadership of INEC to guarantee a level playing field for all political parties ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

Isibor insisted that the Ekiti incident has further reinforced the widespread belief that the APC has effectively captured key democratic institutions, including INEC, thereby compromising the transparency and credibility of elections in Nigeria.

He stated that “the disturbing and embarrassing spectacle” was not only shocking, but represented a dangerous assault on the integrity, neutrality, and credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.

‎The CRPP boss noted that the development raised serious questions about the independence of INEC and further validated growing public concerns that the electoral umpire has been seriously compromised and become increasingly partisan.

According to him, “For an individual who occupies a strategic leadership position in the ruling APC to be adorned in official INEC identification during an election is a disgraceful development that undermines public confidence in the democratic process.

“‎It sends a wrong signal to Nigerians and creates the unfortunate impression that there is no longer a clear distinction between the ruling party and the institution constitutionally empowered to conduct free, fair, and credible elections.”

‎Isibor said that CRPP found it unacceptable that the electoral umpire could permit such a glaring conflict of interest and gross violation of the principles of electoral neutrality.

According to the statement, the Commission owes Nigerians an immediate explanation regarding the circumstances that led to the “unfortunate incident and the role, if there was any, played by  Tenebe in the conduct of the just concluded election”, which was overwhelmingly won by incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the APC.

He added: “‎We therefore hold the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN responsible for the steady erosion of public trust in the Commission. ‎Under his watch, INEC has repeatedly failed to inspire confidence among political stakeholders, while allegations of bias, selective application of electoral rules, and undue influence by the ruling party continue to gain traction.”

The group called on civil society organisations, the international community, election observers, and all lovers of democracy to pay close attention to the “dangerous signals emerging from Nigeria’s electoral environment.”

‎CRPP further demanded a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the participation of the Edo APC chairman in the Ekiti governorship election while those responsible for what they noted as the embarrassment to Nigeria’s democracy should be held accountable.

“‎The integrity of elections remains the cornerstone of democratic governance. Any action capable of diminishing public trust in the electoral process must be resisted by all democratic forces.

“‎Democracy cannot thrive where the electoral umpire is perceived as an extension of the ruling party”, Isibor posited.