Views: Visits 6 Elder Statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai on Thursday, faulted calls for the establishment of State Police, saying it would only destroy the nation’s democracy. Yakasai while making his presentation at the North West Zone Public Hearing on Review of the 1999 Constitution in Kaduna, canvassed for strengthening of Federal Police for optimal performance. According to him, state governors will misuse the state police to favor and promote their interests and that of the political party in power. “They will use it to intimidate political opponents in their respective states,” he added. According Yakasai, Nigerians lost confidence in Local Government Elections because of the way governors use the State Independent Electoral Commissions to manipulate election results in their favor.
He said INEC should be allowed to conduct the elections in order to revive “already moribund local government systems” and allow people at the grassroots to enjoy dividends of democracy.
“The simple solution is, let’s be sincere about it. INEC is still the most credible electoral umpire to conduct elections. With their shortcomings, they are still better off. It is like a ratio 99 to 1. This is evident.
“INEC have conducted elections in so many states in the country. We have listened to arguments saying that INEC may not have the capacity to conduct elections across the states, but we said No! They have the capacity.
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By Kayode Fasua
The Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) has given women the ample opportunity to participate in the forthcoming council polls by waiving payment for nomination forms for them, for chairmanship and councillorship positions.
The body has also amended the earlier released timetable, as the days for party primaries have been increased from five to 22, starting from May 5 to May 27, 2021.
The Chairman of the body, Mr. Babatunde Osibodu, disclosed this during the official flag-off of political activities leading to the 2021 local government elections at the June 12 Cultural Centre.
According to the chairman, the political campaigns are now to end on July 22, 2021, as against the earlier slated time, while the election date remained July 24, 2021.