By Oyibo Salihu
Lokoja
A former governor of Kogi state and stalwart of All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, Prince Abubakar Audu, has called for complete overhauling of electoral process to enable the country enjoy true democracy.
He lamented that over 90 per cent of the people occupying elective positions in Nigeria since 2007 were not elected but selected, saying that the electorate cannot hold them accountable for their action and inaction while in office.
Audu stated this yesterday at Ogbonicha in Ofu local government area of the state while addressing members of Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kogi state Council.
He said: “I have been saying it repeatedly and unequivocally that there is no credible election in the country since 2003 except the 1999 election which was midwives by the military.
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Since the political class has been holding elections in this country, it has been in a sham and the confirmation to that effect was a statement made by the former and late president of Nigeria, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua that the election that brought him to power was not free and fair. So I am not just exaggerating because I am of the opposition party.”
He added that even Justice Mohammed Uwais in his report also pointed out that there was no credible election since 2003, lamenting that out of the several recommendations made by the committee, government refused to implement any “so that the right people will not be able to win election in the country.”
The former governor also said it was dishearten that the people want to remain in power perpetually without minding how they got the power, stressing that lack of credible elections had already put the country in a political mess in the eyes of the world.
Audu said: “We have a terrible situation which is why countries like America no longer buy our crude oil because there is no true democracy in Nigeria. It is high time the electoral process should be reform to give ways for free, fair and credible election.”
