OSOGBO — A civil society group, The Osun Mastermind (TOM), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strictly exercise its regulatory and oversight functions by refusing to validate any political party primary that violates the law.
The Executive Director of TOM, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, made the call during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Osogbo, emphasizing that adherence to electoral laws and internal party regulations is essential to strengthening democracy and ensuring credible elections.
Oyedokun-Alli insisted that the electoral umpire must remain bold, impartial, and independent in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities. He noted that the commission should not validate primary elections that contravene either the Electoral Act or the respective constitutions of the erring political parties.
To achieve this, he urged the Federal Government to firmly guarantee the commission’s independence and provide it with the necessary legal and institutional authority to enforce compliance across all political boards.
According to the executive director, the quest for credible elections and sustainable good governance in Nigeria can only be achieved through a strong, impartial, and courageous electoral management body that is fully committed to upholding the rule of law.
He concluded by asserting that ensuring INEC has the total autonomy and capacity required to effectively discharge its mandate remains the country’s ultimate hope for deep-rooting its democratic process.
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