By Tunde Akanbi, Ilorin
A Don, Professor Sam Egwu, has advocated the strengthening of the institution of democracy and enforcement of political responsibility for elected officials to be responsive and committed to governance.
Professor Egwu who is the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Niger State, made the call at a Round-table Seminar while delivering a lecture organized as part of activities marking the fifty eighth birthday of a foremost labour leader, Comrade Issa Aremu, held at African Peoples Hall, GRA, Ilorin the Kwara state capital North Central Nigeria.
According to him, Nigeria’s democracy must be strengthened for the political office holders to know the task ahead of them.
The Guest Speaker stressed the need for democratic struggles and entrenchments, pointing out that they are key democratic principle to protect the nation’s democracy.
Professor Egwu charged Nigerians to be active in democratic process, asking them to obtain the Permanent Voters Card, secure their votes during election and ensure that their votes count to elect candidates of their choices.
He explained that the electoral law permitted the electorates to secure their votes and monitor the electoral process during election for some hours, hence the need for Nigerians to demonstrate the electoral will and should not allow monetization of their votes.
The INEC official who noted that Nigeria’s democracy is consolidated and the people had accepted that election is the only way of accessing power, called for fraud-free election in the next year’s general elections.
In his contribution, a labour activist, Comrade Issa Aremu, called for scrapping of States Electoral Commissions, alleging that they are full of frauds.
Comrade Aremu however stressed the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission to be the sole electoral umpire.
