Tampering With INEC Independence Risk To Public Safety - Adamawa CAN

The Adamawa State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said that tampering with the independence of INEC may risk public safety.

The state's chairman of the CAN, Reverend Dami Mamza, was speaking on the results of the state's guber election which was declared inconclusive.

While addressing Newsmen on Sunday in Yola, the state's capital, Mamza called for calm as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducts a rerun election at some polling units. 

He further called on all stakeholders to come together to ensure the peaceful completion of the election.

Mamza noted that the CAN had made efforts to ensure the 2023 general elections were peaceful, especially with INEC's assurance of a free and fair election. 

"After the elections that took place on February 25 in all the 36 states of the federation including the FCT, we as citizens went out again to the polls for the election of Governors and Members of the State Houses of Assembly in twenty-eight (28) states across the country on March 18. 

"This was in spite of the outcome of the presidential and national assembly elections which was generally described by local, national and international organisations as lacking transparency and heavily characterised by operational failures.

"However, recall that as Christian leaders in the state, we hinged our strength and trust on the promise made by the electoral body for a free, fair and credible polls this 2023. 

"Consequently, we made massive mobilization in the state for you our good people of Adamawa to come out and exercise your franchise since it will not be business as usual. 

"A feat we did carry out with a sense of religious commitment and emancipation," he said.

"No one should therefore infringe on the independence of INEC as this will pose a risk to public safety. 

"We therefore call on all to remain calm and to renew their confidence on INEC's independence and professionalism for openness, transparency and fairness in handling of the votes of the electorates as we set to go for a re-run," Mamza added.