The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with ensuring that Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils Survey is free, fair and credible .
Mr. Auwal Rafsanjani, Chairman of the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), said this in a statement in Abuja.
According to Rafsanjani, the area council is a very crucial and integral component of democracy.
“As the third level of government, it is the government that is closest to the people and is positioned to directly affect the daily activities of citizens there centrality of the councils for the welfare of Nigerians.
“Disturbingly, council elections have always left a lot to be desired in the hearts of Nigerians.
“Elections at the local government level have been largely a sham, and the results have left electorates and observers perplexed.
“This has greatly contributed to a huge level of voter apathy in council elections, as Nigerians do not show the same enthusiasm for federal and state elections with council elections,” he said.
Rafsanjani said TMG was concerned about the rise in cases of non-credible council polling in Nigeria, as well as the level of voter apathy shown in the electorate across the country.
He said, however, that TMG was confident that the FCT area council election would represent a radical departure from the standard standard for subsequent local-level elections in Nigeria.
Transition Monitoring Group to monitor the election of the FCT Area Councils
This, he said, was especially so because he was being directly supervised by INEC.
He urged FCT residents from all six area councils to turn out in large numbers for the elections.
Rafsanjani said it was imperative that residents understand that non-participation in the electoral process would give ample opportunity to those with ulterior motives to hijack the process.
He said this would eventually lead to the imposition of unpopular candidates as election winners.
“Citizens must also understand that any form of lack of participation in the voting process will also represent a direct contribution to the poor governance of local councils, as has been seen throughout the country.
“Elections are democratic channels for citizens to elect credible leaders; therefore, TMG reminds FCT residents of their civic duty to elect credible leaders in the Area Councils Election,” he said.
Rafsanjani said a participatory election would not only produce popular leaders, but also give the electorate the powers to hold elected leaders to account.
He also urged the INEC to ensure that modalities were implemented in all voting units to ensure that voting went smoothly.
Rafsanjani urged politicians to play the game without undermining the electoral process.
He also urged security agencies to be vigilant about their responsibility to ensure the peaceful conduct of elections in the six FCT area councils.
Credit: NNN.NG.
