Conference of Northern States Civil Society Networks has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to resist any pressure to shift the dates of the forthcoming general elections.
Chairman of the Conference Ambassador Ibrahim A . Waiya, stated during a media briefing held in Kano.
“It has come to our notice that there is some alleged pressure from some quarters on INEC leadership to have the elections postponed. It is our candid opinion that nothing is a worse disservice to the country than such an evil thought and imagination”.
” It is our adamant belief that the leadership of INEC would not contemplate doing that or succumb to any pressure to tamper with the integrity of the Commission”.
Waiya said the Chairman of the INEC, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu should consider that all eyes are on him and Nigerians expected nothing less than credible, fair, and transparent elections.
Waiya disassociated the Northern states civil society networks from the protest in some parts of Lagos State calling for the sack of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Abdulrasheed Bawa.
He said the position of their colleagues in Lagos State did not represent the position of all the civil society organizations in Nigeria.
” The current leadership of the EFCC has not only changed the approach of the fight against corruption but has also systematically introduced more duration reforms” he stressed.
The chairman observed that the EFCC boss has discharged his duties well enough , adding that he secured a record number of over two thousand convictions from January to December 2021 and 3,785 convictions from January to December 2022.
He charged the EFCC and its leadership to remain focused and not allow itself to be distracted by the activities of noise makers and politically motivated sentiments and characters.
Abdullahi Jalaluddeen
