By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, has cautioned political gladiators to desist from further heating up the polity with unfounded allegations against officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and security agencies.
The group, in a statement yesterday, by its chairperson, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, expressed concern about attempts to damage the credibility of some of the national commissioners of INEC.
According to Akiyode-Afolabi: “TMG is concerned about attempts to damage the credibility of some of the National Commissioners of INEC who over time have proved themselves as worthy ambassadors of Nigeria.
“We are more concerned in particular, about the petition submitted by the Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Akwa Ibom chapter, calling for the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini, for alleged partisanship and other sundry offences ahead of the general polls in the country”, said TMG
The group further stated that Igini had since refuted the allegations, saying that the allegations deserved scrutiny from the authorities if Nigerians were to get a sense of closure from the terrible events of the recent past when politicians subverted the democratic choices and aspirations of Nigerians.
“The current INEC has a reputation of having some of the finest brains in the country in their midst and this should be appreciated by all Nigerians. Of course, the postponement of last Saturday’s election may have affected the perception of Nigerians, but we must support INEC to deliver a credible electoral process. Any attempt to rupture its credibility will affect the democratic journey of this country.”