Our members increasingly finding it difficult to hold meetings in Lagos State – ADC
*Calls for urgent amendment of Electoral Act
*Independent National Electoral Commission not truly independent – Party
By OUR REPORTER
“As it is presently constituted, we believe the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is truly not independent and we urgently demand that the powers to appoint the leadership of the electoral umpire should not be vested with the President. Ditto the appointment of the Justices of the Supreme Court”.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has
alleged that the party members are been harassed and intimidated by political touts across Lagos State.
The opposition’s coalition party stated that it has become increasingly difficult for its members to hold meetings and carry out political activities across different local government areas in the state because of the trend.
This was stated by the ADC’s Local Government Area chairmen in Lagos State during a press conference in FESTAC.
Ugochukwu Anaere, the head of ADC’s LGA’s chairmen in state, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, noted that there were reports of targeted attacks by party members across Lagos with security agencies appearing helpless.
According to him, “Virtually all our colleagues from the 20 LGAs in the state have reported one form of threats or attacks.
“We have escalated these to the party hierarchy and the law enforcement agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS). Regrettably, these threats and attacks appear intractable,” the party said.
Anaere pointed out that the party does not
want its members and leaders intimidated, harassed or brutalised anymore by any individual or group of persons under any guise.
He stressed that similar situation was seen in the 2023 poll where party members were arrested and attacked across Lagos.
He called upon security agencies to arrest any individual or group making inflammatory comments, threat to attack voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“These grave concerns of ours, we appeal relevant national and sub-national authorities to cause adequate steps to be taken to secure our votes and protect the lives and property of Nigerian voters, irrespective of their state, religion, creed, party affiliations and so on,” he added.
The party further called for urgent amendments to the 1999 Constitution and the 2022 Electoral Act, citing concerns over the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the appointment of Supreme Court Justices.
This is as the party re-affirmed its readiness to change the trajectory of the country, saying, “Nigerians continue to suffer untold hardship with the incumbent government’s programmes and projects seemingly very far from addressing them.
“Strong view that the sanctity of the 2027 elections cannot be guaranteed unless certain aspects of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the 2022 Electoral Act are urgently amended.
“As it is presently constituted, we believe the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is truly not independent and we urgently demand that the powers to appoint the leadership of the electoral umpire should not be vested with the President. Ditto the appointment of the Justices of the Supreme Court.”
