By Cross Udo, Abuja
Ahead of the forthcoming general elections in the country, the immediate past Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Akwa Ibom State, Barrister Mike Igini has written a letter to the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi on free, fair, and credible election as an indispensable tool for national development.
The former Independent National Electoral Commission REC also told the late human right activist that though some of his loyalists have abandoned the struggle he started for a just fair and equitable society where there will be an opportunity for all and responsibility for all, some of them have continued with the fight.
Igini, in the letter he sent on the occasion of the 19th Annual Gani Fawehinmi lecture titled, “Free, Fair & credible election as an indispensable tool for National Development,” said that with the new Electoral Act, no more appearance and disappearance of collation officers.
He also informed the late legal icon that he put 10 years as a REC in INEC and put in so much effort at the risk of his life to get the current electoral system to where it is at the moment.
He further told Chief Fawehinmi that he never surrendered those pristine principles and values that they have been fighting for but remained through to them throughout his stewardship.
Heads of ECOWAS Institutions pledges to enhance reporting system on budget performance
The letter read, “Chief, even though in death and Heaven with our creator, we continue to celebrate you every January because of your numerous fights for a just fair, and equitable society where there will be an opportunity for all and responsibility from all, we are still not where should be but the struggle continues and be assured that we will not deviate even though several people who identified with you when you were alive have abandoned the ideals that you stood for and have embarked on revisionism and repudiation of the principles and values they once fought for side by side with you as followers.
“By your unwavering commitment to a better society, you wrote an enduring law in the hearts of all you left behind. You will live for all times.
“This is to let you know that Nigeria is about to conduct a major General election next month 25th of February and the 11th of March respectively under a new electoral Act 2022. As usual, the country is tensed up as we approach these elections.
“Chief, many politicians are not happy and agitated because the new Electoral Act if and when implemented fully will retire many of them from politics. We have blocked all known loopholes both statutory and procedural used for rigging election such that the electoral misfortune of the past will no longer be possible.
“The New Act has a total of 153 provisions out of which the lawmakers accepted 48 of 91 proposals that INEC sent that included some of those provisions you complained about when you were alive.
“They didn’t read very well and understood these provisions how they returned power to the voters at the polling units where elections can only be won and lost and no longer at collation centres or courtrooms as you have always argued.”
