‘INEC, Stabilising Electoral Process’
A former Resident Electoral Commissioner and political scientist, Dr Ken Nwoke, has, says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is working to stabilise the electoral process in the country.Nwoke, a senior lecturer with the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education was speaking in a live radio programme in Port Harcourt. He said, INEC has come with its election plans for the political parties and the electorate to work with for the commission to achieve it.The University teacher noted that, it is the duty of the people and the political class to understand the democratic principles and processes and work towards stabilizing the democratic system.“The people have the supremacy, the power rests on the people, the electorate going by. Section 14, sub section 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.The electorate must realise the fact that the man that rigs and chases you into the bush has stolen power from you. We gave him the power to chase you into the bush. Until we begin to exercise that power that is bestowed on us by the Constitution by going out there to have our PVC and arm ourselves, then, shall we get it right”, he said.Nwoke however regretted that a number of voters do not come out to vote, thereby giving politicians opportunity to manipulate.“It is very unfortunate that registered voters in Rivers State are about five million but during voting or election, less than two millions would vote.“ If 80 per cent does not come out to vote, it means that there is something wrong with our system. There is a political error’’, he noted.He said, people have to realise the fact that their destiny is in their own hands. They should live up to their expectation.
