By Musa Baba Adamu
The Transformation Monitoring Group (TMG) has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to uphold fairness ahead of the general elections in Nigeria.
The organization condemned the nomination of All Progressives Congress (APC) members for key positions in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
TMG, the leading civil society election observation group in Nigeria, has more than 400 member organizations.
A statement signed by its Chairman, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, warned against any strategy that seeks to influence the process and outcome of the 2023 polls in favour of the ruling APC.
Rafsanjani said the appointment of card-carrying party members as INEC Commissioners and State Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) must not stand.
The activist noted that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is clear on the composition and structure of the electoral body.
He cited allegations that the recent “unmerited promotions and strategic deployments across the country” by INEC were to upturn votes or create inconclusive situations that will help unscrupulous politicians rig their way into power.
“We are more concerned by the potential impact of such a major push from the Presidency on the overall credibility, transparency, and integrity of the upcoming elections in 2023.
“Just as we condemn in totality the appointments of card-carrying members of any political party as a controlling strategy that can compromise the competence and objectivity of INEC.”
The group called on President Buhari to ensure the commitment of his administration’s fight against corruption by withdrawing the names of party members.
The TMG counseled the National Assembly to insist on democratic values and electoral integrity by rejecting the nominations.
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