Victor EzejaIndependent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reassured of its commitment to remaining neutral and conducting free and fair elections in the country.
INEC maintained that as an independent electoral body, it does not have preference for any candidate or political party.
The electoral body gave the indication via a post on its official Twitter handle on Wednesday night, while responding to a controversy earlier in the day sparked by a post by the Commission that like a post which criticised the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi on the micro-blogging platform.
The post which was made by a news media platform (not Prime Business Africa) was about where Seun Kuti, son of legendary Nigerian music icon, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, in an online platform, Mic On podcast, said Obi was “an opportunist that can’t deliver Nigeria.”
Seun Kuti further described Obi as a capitalist, who didn’t start on time and mobilise support.
“He hasn’t had the time because he started too late. You can’t be telling me that just because you lost PDP primaries 18 months before the election, you suddenly started a movement, and you have a plan for the country.
“No, that’s opportunism. And it’s not an opportunist that will deliver Nigeria—not jumping on Labour Party. The Labour Party has a socialist structure. Peter Obi is a capitalist. Where are they going?” Seun Kuti said in the podcast.
The outrage generated by the post, however, forced INEC to “Unlike” the post.
INEC in the statement vowed that its allegiance is first to the people of Nigeria, not a party or candidate and promised to investigate the incident which according to observers, painted a picture of the Commission having preference for political parties and candidates.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been drawn to a post on its Twitter handle, liking a post relating to one of the 18 Presidential candidates.
“The Commission is an independent electoral body and does not have preference for any candidate or political party. The Commission assures all Nigerians of its neutrality and will conduct a general election that is free and fair to all. The allegiance of the Commission is to the people of Nigeria.
“In the meantime, the Commission is investigating the circumstances that led to the liking of the said post and will take appropriate disciplinary actions if an infraction is established.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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