Human Rights Lawyer Festus Ogun voices concerns over INEC’s impartiality in ongoing elections
Human rights lawyer Festus Ogun has raised significant concerns about the ongoing off-cycle elections in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states, stating that eternal vigilance is crucial to safeguarding liberty.
Ogun asserted that it was time to accept that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could not conduct impartial elections in Nigeria, alleging a bias towards the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In his statement, Ogun claimed that INEC has taken sides with the APC and suggested that this alleged bias would persist until the people of Nigeria collectively say, “Enough is enough.”
He emphasized the importance of vigilance as a necessary price for maintaining liberty in the democratic process.
“Eternal vigilance is the price we must pay for our liberty. We have to accept now that INEC is incapable of conducting elections in Nigeria; they’ve taken sides with the APC. And they will continue to do this until our people are ready to say enough is enough,” he said.
As the off-cycle elections unfold, Ogun’s remarks underscore a growing sentiment among some stakeholders regarding the perceived impartiality of INEC.
The call for heightened awareness and public engagement indicates the challenges faced in ensuring fair and transparent electoral processes in the country.
Already, there have been calls for INEC to justify its recent actions in the three states. Opposition party members have accused the electoral body of comprising the processes already in place.