INEC on Tuesday tasked political parties to imbibe internal democracy and strengthen the polity.
Alhaji Haliru Tambuwal, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kaduna State, gave the charge during a stakeholders’ forum ahead of the Saturday March 3 fresh elections into three state constituencies.
The affected constituencies are Giwa West, Kubau and Igabi East.
Tambuwal said that imposition of candidates and lack of internal democracy in the various political parties was a major source of acrimony and crisis during elections.
He advised them to always field credible and popular candidates for polls to enable the parties win elections and serve the people.
The commissioner noted that much abuses and crises had been recorded since political parties were given the chance to screen and replace their candidates.
Tambuwal advocated for a return of the powers to screen candidates nominated by the parties to INEC to minimise the rancor occasioned by the manipulations of politicians for selfish reasons.
He suggested for a review of Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2011, which stipulated the screening and replacement of candidates to be fielded by the parties to give INEC powers to reject unpopular or questionable contestants.
He also advised the parties to hold regular consultative meetings to resolve their differences and deepen the democratic process.
On the upcoming state constituency elections, the commissioner urged the stakeholders, including the political parties, electorate, security agencies and the media, to undertake the exercise patriotically and lawfully.
“The responsibility of conducting a perfect election is for all of us stakeholders; every one of us must do his bid diligently to achieve desired results,’’ he said.
He explained that the poll was in compliance with court orders and assured the stakeholders of INEC’s readiness to conduct an improved free, fair, credible and acceptable election.
Tambuwal said 669 electoral personnel would be deployed to conduct the polls in the affected 123 polling units.
The commissioner said that the ANPP, CAN, CPC, PDP and PRP would be participating in the election.
Similarly, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ballah Nassarawa, assured that security agencies would operate with “high degree of professionalism’’ and without fear or favour.
Represented by his deputy, Mr Nwodibo Ekechukwu, the police chief disclosed that restriction of movement by unauthorised persons and non-registered voters would be enforced in the affected areas on the polling day to prevent breach of public peace.
According to him, over 2,676 police personnel will be engaged for the election in addition to the deployment of other security agencies to ensure the success of the poll.
Nassarawa appealed to residents to volunteer useful information that could assist in nipping in the bud any security breach.
The stakeholders had earlier urged INEC and security agencies to remain neutral and proactive during the exercise to prevent crisis.
They advised the two bodies to be honest, sincere and neutral as organisers and law enforcement agents.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also reports that the polls would take place in 193 polling units in Igabi East state constituency, 16 at Giwa West and 14 at Kubau.
Representatives of PDP, ANPP, ACN, and CPC, as well as security agencies and the media attended the meeting. (NAN)