The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has applauded the conduct of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its dedication and commitment to a transparent process which upheld constitutionalism and due process in the Kogi Central recall saga.
The Chairman of TMG, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), while briefing newsmen on Monday in Abuja, commended the conduct of a transparent step by step process in the exercise up to the counting of the signatures collected from Kogi Central.
Auwal added that it was worth noting that the entire efforts from the onset had been a mere charade and an aberration of section 69 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He stated that it was a clear demonstration of the functionality of democracy when democratic machinations uphold the rule of law rather than becoming tools for the alignment of political interests of a few people in power.
He said TMG was very interested in how more than 50% of total registered voters in Kog Central quickly turned up to sign the petition for the recall of a lawmaker in a country that has historically experienced a worrisome level of voter apathy.
According to him, this occurrence called for deeper insight that could only be brought about through thorough investigation.
He said the “Transition Monitoring Group has observed keenly the events involving the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan and the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpobso While the events have been an embarrassment to the people of Nigeria, and a depiction of the leadership of the country in very bad light, the manner and speed with which it snowballed into an attempt to recall Senator Natasha is, without mincing words, an apparent display of desperation on the part of some so-called political gladiators to completely silent Senator Natasha.