A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and a former presidential candidate, Mr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has declared that the recently released timetable for the 2027 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was deliberately structured to favour the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He particularly described the time table as an overreach, stressing that INEC does not have the authority whatsoever to dictate when political parties should conduct their primaries.
The former president candidate specifically said that rushing out an ill-thoughtout timetable after what was consider an abysmal poor performance in the Abuja Area Council election, showed that the INEC chairman cannot be entrusted with the 2027 general election
Hashim therefore demanded the immediate resignation of the Chairman of INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, stressing that it is clear that he cannot conduct and guarantee a credible, free, and fair elections in 2027.
Hashim told journalists at a media briefing in Abuja the action of INEC in moving party primaries to an earlier date was a deliberate attempt to weaken opposition parties currently dealing with internal disputes.
In the words of Hashim; “It is not the business of INEC to dictate to parties when they should conduct nominations of candidates for elections. This shows that Amupitan cannot be trusted.
“It is either he resigns or Nigerians will embark on mass action to force him out. He should not be allowed to stay a day longer in that office.”
“He’s deliberately working to favour the APC, having destabilised other political parties who are trying to sort themselves out in court. That is disingenuous and wrong,” he stressed.
Hashim insisted that INEC must be reconstituted in order for the 2027 elections to be free and fair, stressing that public confidence in the commission’s leadership is critical.
He further said; “For us to have an acceptable, free and fair election in 2027, INEC has to be reconstituted. Conducting elections whose outcomes could become predictable would be counter productive and dangerous to Nigeria’s democracy and such a scenario will be unjust to taxpayers”.
Hashim pointedly said that primaries were completely the internal affairs of political parties, provided they complied with the nomination deadlines spelt out in the Electoral Act.
In the words of Hashim; “INEC is not a headmaster that can impose what it wants on political parties. As long as parties comply with the Electoral Act regarding submission timelines, they have the right to determine when to hold their primaries”.
While referencing historical precedents in Nigeria’s political history, Hashim warned against actions that could undermine democratic continuity after 27 years of uninterrupted civil rule.
