The clamour for the removal of Professor Maurice Iwu as the Chairman of INEC was reiterated by the Comrade Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomole in the course of his paper during the Trust 6th Annual Dialogue held in Abuja recently. Meanwhile, when Jerry Adesewo caught up with Chief Chekwas Okorie, the National Chairman of All People’s Grand Alliance (APGA) has a different opinion. This is what he has to say:
Chekwas Okorie:
If you remember that the recommendation submitted by the electoral reform committee is that future Chairman of INEC should be a retired Justice, you will agree that Iwu is not qualified to be the Chairman of INEC. So, why is everyone asking for Iwu’s head as if Iwu has committed some impious offence? Those who appoint him should take the blame. Does Iwu hire tugs? No! Who is the person that refuses to release money at the appropriate time so that materials will be available? Does Iwu bribe INEC officials? Politicians are to blame for 75% of our political hiccups. The Executives take 15% for manipulating the electoral body by not releasing funds early to ensure adequate preparation. And the electoral body takes the remaining 10%. That is my own assessment.
The solution is an electoral reform that will empower the electorate and make INEC truly independent, so that you can hold somebody responsible. And then don’t forget that in that report there is now a recommendation for an Electoral Malpractices Commission, like EFCC that will now begin to prosecute people who have the tendency to break our electoral laws. This has never happen before in our history. When people rig elections through others, they go to the church to do thanksgiving and celebrate and leave the Umpires to face the people. So, it is pedestrian to talk about Iwu all the time instead of facing the real issue as 2011 approaches.
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