Shifting burden of proof to INEC good if pursued with sincerity — Labour Party

By John Alechenu

ABUJA — The Labour Party (LP) has described the connection by the Senate to displacement the load of impervious successful predetermination petition cases to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arsenic a invited improvement — provided it is pursued with sincerity and safeguards against abuse.

National Publicity Secretary of the party’s Interim National Committee, Tony Akeni, stated this successful effect to Vanguard’s enquiry connected Thursday.

Akeni said, “On the surface, the projected amendment to displacement the load of impervious to INEC for the integrity and credibility of electoral results sounds commendable, if pursued with sincerity.”

He, however, expressed interest implicit what helium described arsenic “the scarcity of sincerity successful the affairs of Nigeria’s governmental class,” informing that without beardown safeguards, corrupt officials could exploit the reform.

According to him, “Adequate penalties indispensable beryllium built into the instrumentality for immoderate INEC authoritative recovered trading predetermination results arsenic commodities for the highest bidder — whether acting for petitioners oregon declared winners.”

Akeni besides referenced the party’s acquisition during the 2023 statesmanlike predetermination petitions, alleging that INEC nether its past chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, delayed the merchandise of indispensable predetermination materials required by the Labour Party and its statesmanlike candidate, Peter Obi, for cross-examination astatine the tribunal.

He said, “Under specified circumstances, a dishonest oregon compromised INEC taking implicit the load of impervious would marque nary meaningful difference.”

The enactment truthful urged the National Assembly to see “enforceable punitive measures and compensatory provisions for petitioners” successful the projected amendment to fortify post-election justice, beforehand transparency, and heighten nationalist spot successful the electoral process.

The station Shifting load of impervious to INEC bully if pursued with sincerity — Labour Party appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.