*Says electoral umpire obstacle to Nigeria’s democracy
By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has expressed reservations on the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as By-elections hold across the country tomorrow.
This was expressed in a statement signed by National Secretary, CUPP, High Chief Peter Ameh, made available to our correspondent yesterday.
“CUPP is in trepidation that INEC is beginning to constitute itself as an arm of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). We are at a loss, and find it extremely hard to hazard any guess as to the reason for its removal of PDP from the ballot, only, but to make it an easy ride to victory for APC candidates,” it said.
According to the statement titied, “INEC AS AN OBSTACLE TO NIGERIA’S DEMOCRACY” CUPP frowned at the alleged denial of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the chance to field candidates in Plateau.
“The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has observed with great dismay the ignoble role the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is about to play in the forthcoming bye elections in Plateau North Senatorial District by denying the People Democratic Party (PDP) the right to contest as a party in the elections.
“INEC has hinged its refusal to manifest PDP on the ballot papers on a judgement of the Election Panel of the Court of Appeal that has already been discredited by the Supreme Court as miscarriage of justice, unjust and obnoxious, on the grounds that the Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction to entertain a pre election matter.
“At no point was PDP barred from representing its candidates for any by election, and as a matter of convention, a by election is meant for those who had participated in the earlier election,” CUPP said.
The coalition added that, “With this development, the majority of people of Plateau North Senatorial District will be disenfranchised by denying them the opportunity of choosing the candidates they overwhelmingly voted for in the February, 2023 National Assembly election”.
CUPP therefore, used the opportunity to put Nigerians on notice and at alert on the ignoble and obnoxious behaviours of INEC past and present that is capable of undoing our democracy.
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