A group, Legacy Initiative International (LLI) has expressed confidence on the capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct credible elections which begins in February.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Grand Patron of LII, Chief Kenny Martins said this while speaking with newsmen at an event to mark his 62nd birthday in Lagos on Tuesday.

Martins said: “unless something major happens, I have confidence in INEC’s capacity to conduct free and fair elections in 2019.

“The reason being that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu must be feeling very challenged to surpass what his predecessor, Prof. Attahiru Jega, did in 2015.

“When Jega was there, there were also concerns about the elections but he proved himself and everybody was satisfied with what transpired.

“From my interactions with top INEC officials, going by the level of planning and preparations, I am confident that INEC will not disappoint Nigerians in 2019.’’

On the controversy surrounding the electoral guidelines, he said it was normal for some political parties to disagree with INEC.

He, however, noted that the electoral umpire had the power to adopt procedures that would enhance its conduct of elections.

Martins also decried the spate of thuggery and violence witnessed recently during campaign rallies of some political parties, stressing that it was not good for the image of the country.

“The big political actors need to call their supporters to order. We have been having rallies where guns were being shot by thugs even in the presence of governors and other top party members.

“That is not the way to go and we need to put a stop to such actions. Elections are supposed to be peaceful processes of electing credible people to take charge of our affairs,’’ he said.

Martins said LLI was one of the observers approved by INEC to monitor the elections, adding that it was already training its observers for that purpose.

He also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the amended Electoral Bill in order to deepen democracy in Nigeria.

Martins said the LII was unveiled on Aug. 1, 2018 as an interfaith group to promote purposeful leadership by uniting religious and traditional leaders to endorse only credible candidates.

-NAN

BE

– Jan. 16, 2019 @ 9:29 GMT |