The Head of Political Science Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Frank-Colins Okafor, has described last Saturday’s presidential and national assembly polls as the most keenly contested in recent history of the Nigerian polity.
Professor Okafor was giving his reactions to the general elections, in an interview in his office at Awka.
Professor Okafor however, noted that the polls could not be adjudged as free and credible as it was marred by irregularities and violence in some parts of the country.
The University Don explained that for Nigeria to enjoy a free, fair and credible polls, the appointment of INEC chairman should not be the prerogative of the President but should go through pure legislative process where the representatives of the people should select who
becomes INEC chairman.
Reacting on the issue of smart card reader failure as recorded in certain polling units, the University Don called on INEC to improve on it by testing them overtime to confirm their status before mobilizing them to the field.
He said such is to avoid disenfranchisement of many eligible voters.
In his reaction, another lecturer in the Institution, Professor Uche Nwaogwugwu, suggested that the issue of card reader shutting down during election could be addressed by making a provision where somebody after accreditation will thumb print on the party he is voting for to arrest the ugly trend and win the confidence of the electorate.
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