Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has slammed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over the recent supplementary elections conducted in Adamawa State and other parts of Nigeria.
Lawal branded INEC as disgraceful, adding that the electoral body has decided to throw Nigeria into civil war. The former SGF spoke during a television chat on Monday while giving his verdict on the Adamawa Governorship rerun election that was suspended at the weekend.
“They [INEC] have lost the sense of normal consciences, normal decorum. They have thrown due process, law and order out of the door. So I don’t know what else is remaining for INEC to redeem its image,” Lawal said.
“I am sorry to say this because I was one of those who, over the years, canvassed the view that INEC should be trusted on account of my previous experiences and knowledge of the working of INEC, but in this election season, they have chosen to throw all caution to the winds.
“Whatever it is that is driving them, I don’t know, but something I know is an image they will leave for their children to pay because it is completely disgraceful. It is like they have chosen to be enemies of the country.
“They have chosen to throw the country into anarchy or even possibly into civil war by what they have done by the palaver manner in which they go about their duties to the citizens of the country. So that is my new opinion of INEC.”
Recall that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa gubernatorial election, Hudu Yunusa Ari, caused an uproar after he announced Aisha Binani winner of the governorship election on Sunday while collation was ongoing.
Before the collation exercise was suspended on Saturday evening, results from 10 local government areas had been announced, and Binani was trailing the incumbent governor and the PDP candidate, Ahmadu Fintiri.
However, INEC swiftly denounced the purported declaration and suspended the collation of results of the supplementary election.
INEC further summoned the REC to Abuja with immediate effect and eventually suspended him.