A group, the Alliance for Credible Elections, has called for the resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Maurice Iwu.

The group said Iwu was incapable of delivering credible elections in April.

This was contained in a statement by the Secretary of the group, Mr. Emma Ezeazu, made available on Monday.

The organisation stated this just as the Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress also made a similar call.

Ezeazu said the ACE had questioned the integrity and impartiality of Iwu in the past.

He added that the recent disqualification of candidates, pending grey areas in the voter register and more information on the academic background of the INEC boss reinforced the position that Iwu should resign.

He said, “We want to state that the blood of our people will be on the head of Iwu and his commissioners if his self-serving manipulation of the electoral process leads to anarchy and loss of lives.

“From all indications, this election is programmed for tenure elongation and not for change of leadership. INEC has gone overboard by defying court rulings that made it clear that it does not have the powers to disqualify candidates.

“The disqualification of the presidential candidate of the AC and the party’s governorship candidate in Anambra among others in the face of court rulings is irresponsible and contemptuous of the courts.

“Our courts have interpreted the laws of the land to say that INEC has powers to verify the claims of candidates but has no powers to disqualify any candidate.”

He noted that barely one month to the elections, INEC was yet to publish the voter register and make electronic copies available to parties and the civil society.

He added, “We call on INEC to state how voting will be done on election day. We call on our people not to be provoked into any acts of violence by the manipulations of INEC. We can win this war against lawlessness by mobilising non-violently. INEC must obey the rulings of the court.”

Also in a statement signed by Lagos AC’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, the party said, “We see Iwu as a remorseless agent that would do anything to ingratiate himself with his masters, who have demonstrated the wish to sabotage a peaceful and free electoral process that would see them out of power on May 29.

“Iwu, having elected to serve the narrow, devilish and selfish interests of both President Olusegun Obasanjo and his dying PDP government, must be relieved of the task of conducting an election.”

Link, http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200703201302365


@i think that stupid Man should resign becos it has shows that the man is in Suport of PDP the Man should be neutral to all Parties,and who is he to disqulified Candidate,imagine Andy Uba being the Only candidate in Anambra when his brother told us that they rig the election in 2003 for ndigge (Chri Uba)IWU is a crazing man he need to resign.this is a plan for rigging this election.if IWU remains there i wont be suprise if PDP win the Election Again.