Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the inconclusive governorship election in the state, on Tuesday said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had played the highest form of political mischief for accepting the substitution of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for its late governorship candidate in the 21st November election.
The name of Yahaya Bello was sent to INEC as substitution for late Abubakar Audu. This did not go down well with Abiodun Faleke, the running mate to Audu who thinks he should automatically replace the late Audu.
In a statement issued by Wada’s Chief Communications Manager, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, the governor said INEC played to the gallery by swallowing the directive of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) hook, line and sinker.
He lamented that the AGF’s action is part of a grand plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to grab Kogi State at all costs, adding that the directive was null and void for inconsistency with the provisions of the constitution.
According to the incumbent governor, INEC’s decision ignores the fact that its action can denigrate the commission and indeed Nigeria’s democracy, just because it was playing into a grand design by the ruling APC to grab Kogi State at all costs.
“There is something terribly awry in a system in which a body set up to uphold the rule of law and protect the sanctity of people’s votes is the same one that has gone ahead to undermine it,” Shaibu said, adding that the Electoral Act was clear that in view of the death of the APC candidate, Wada should be declared the winner of the election, being the only surviving candidate with the majority of lawful votes cast in the election held on 21st November.
“It is disheartening, therefore, to see an Institution that is financed by the Nigerian People to assail and flagrantly treat the constitution of Nigeria with disdain as well as arrogate to itself the powers of the Court.
“The Pertinent questions are: What is INEC attempting to hide? Whose interest(s) is INEC trying to protect?
“We assert, very strongly that it is not the desire of the Nigerian People, to whom Sovereignty belongs.
“INEC should know that an electoral umpire is expected to be impartial unto death. INEC is like a judge, required to do justice and be fair to all concerned.
“INEC is a referee, expected to apply the rules and respect the rights of all parties. INEC is the co-ordinator of an orchestra expected to ensure the best performance of the ensemble,” Shaibu added, while expressing optimism that Wada would win the case which is already in court.