Reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has launched an investigation into the 2009 rerun election in Ekiti State has been applauded by Nuhu Ribadu, an Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) presidential aspirant.

Mr. Ribadu said in Abuja yesterday that monitoring INEC officials will ensure free and fair elections in the country.

“It is the right step in the right direction. The only way to ensure free and fair election is when you have a system in place to check the excesses of all officers,” he said.

Over the weekend, a national daily reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the leadership of Attahiru Jega, has concluded plans to begin probing the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in charge of Ekiti state at the time of the elections, Ayoka Adebayo. According to the report, INEC had set up a three man committee to begin this probe as a first step to cleaning its house in preparation for the upcoming 2011 Elections.

Protect your vote

The results of the controversial April 2009 rerun elections in Ekiti State were widely believed to be a result of coercion. Six months later, the results which saw Segun Oni of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) returned as Ekiti State governor were upturned and Kayode Fayemi of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was sworn in as the new governor of the state.

Referring to the upcoming 2011 elections, Mr. Ribadu, the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), urged Nigerians to resist voters’ intimidation.

“Stand up against intimidation, protect your vote, and do what is right,” Mr. Ribadu said.

Meanwhile, the presidential bid of the former anti-graft boss has been endorsed by the youth wing of the Ohaneze Nd’Igbo, the World Igbo Youth Congress (WIYC). The group, led by Ronald Okechukwu, paid a courtesy visit to Mr. Ribadu in his campaign office in Abuja yesterday assuring him of their support.

“There must be a 360-degree deviation from ‘Chop - I - Chop’ stance by Nigerian political gladiators for Nigeria to really move forward. Without fear of contradiction, I want to say that Nigeria is in dire need of an emancipator that can save her from the current state of abject penury,” Mr. Okechukwu said.


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