NSUKKA (ENUGU STATE) – A political scientist, Prof Aloysius Okolie, says the success of the 2015 general elections will depend largely on the ability of politicians and INEC to “obey the rules of engagements.’’
Okolie, of the Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria Nsukka, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Nsukka on Saturday, stressed the need for free and fair elections.
“If the electoral body will be transparent, and politicians play the game according to rules of engagement, 2015 elections will be the best in the history of the country.
“Transparency of INEC and good conduct of politicians will make every vote count in 2015 as well as make the elections violence free, ‘he said.
He however expressed disappointment on the conduct of INEC and politicians in some states in the just concluded party primaries, in which parallel elections were held.
‘What happened in some states in party primaries may be a litmus test of what will happen in 2015 general elections if care is not taken.
“The most worrisome part of it is that INEC officials were seen in almost all parallel primary elections venues, suggesting they were in the know that there will be multiple primaries
“I am afraid if politicians will not carry the sophisticated fraud observed in parry primaries to the main election in 2015,”he said.
The political scientist urged Nigerians to resist any attempt by any politician to use them to cause violence or rig elections.
“Nigerians should know that elected leaders can only work for the benefit of people when they know that power to elect belong to the people.
“Nigerians should come out on election days and vote candidates of their choice so that those who will win at the end of the day will reflect wishes of the people.
“This is the only way we can strengthen democracy in this country ,as well as make elected leaders to be accountable to Nigerians,’’ he said. (NAN)