6th April, 2011
A socio-cultural group, Akwa Indigenes Development Initiatives, a non-Governmental Organisation, Lagos State Chapter, has called on all progressives irrespective of their political affiliations to support Prof. Attahiru Jega, the INEC umpire.
The group made this appeal following repeated call for the resignation of Jega as INEC boss over the last Saturday’s cancellation of the National Assembly poll.
Speaking with P.M.NEWS on the development, Akparawa Henry Akpan, Head, Political Desk of the association, said it was time for Nigerians to support Prof. Jega to ensure that the election is free and fair.
“It is high time that Nigerians exercised their civic responsibilities by ensuring that competent and committed individuals are elected into positions of authority for the security and well-being of our people.
“The election might have started on a shaky note, but we must realise that there is no perfection in every human institution.
“Political parties and their candidates should see this cancellation as a blessing by capitalising on it to further their campaigns,†he said.
He appeals to Nigerians to forgive Jega on his first attempt to conduct an election in Nigeria. On the alleged disenfrachisement of voters, Akparawa Akpan advised INEC to see to it that all registered voters were allowed to cast their vote.
–Ufforth Shallom