Sokoto polls: African Bar Association knocks INEC over conduct

The President of African Bar Association, Hannibal Uwaifo, has knocked the Independent National Electoral Commission on the conduct of the supplementary elections in Sokoto State.

He said the INEC had spent so much time in its preparation for the polls only to conduct a shoddy exercise at the end of the day.

Uwaifo advised that the institution needs to improve upon the conduct of subsequent elections in the state.

The ABA president said his team witnessed a lot of ballot boxes snatching in the state, especially in Kebbe Local Government with some INEC officials beaten up by political parties’ thugs.

He remarked, “We all thought that by now the election in the country would have been better than what we are witnessing.

“The BVAS in itself has not improved compared to what was witnessed during the last round of elections.

“It is unfortunate, and if we are to rate this election, I would rather give INEC and security officials 40 per cent”

“INEC cannot spend so much time and resources and end up with incompetent and untrained staff,” Uwaifo carpeted INEC.

The lawyer said the bar is not in support of any candidate, as all the contestants are indigenes and whoever emerges remain an indigene of the state.

He however challenged the Nigerian media to stand up against those who tend to bring down the country through electoral malpractices.