By Cross Udo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been warned not to take the country to the inglorious days when impunity reigned supreme by substituting the names of validly elected candidates in the just-concluded political parties’ primaries with people that did not participate in the process.

A political pressure group, Abuja School of Political Thoughts, therefore, urged INEC to reject the names of candidates from political parties that did not take part in their primaries.

In a statement yesterday by its Director, Dr Sam Amadi, the group said that accepting names of candidates that did not pass through the process of primaries for the proper nomination was tantamount to fraud.

Amadi was reacting to alleged INEC acceptance of the name of the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan as the candidate for the APC for Yobe North senatorial district for the 2023 elections, after losing out in the presidential race.

This came even as Bashir Machina who won the APC primary election for the district, refused to step down for Lawan, who contested the APC presidential ticket.

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Similarly, Amadi was reacting to the alleged acceptance of the name of former Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs, Mr Godswill Akpabio for Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, after losing out in the presidential contest.

This also came even as former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Udom Ekpoudom (retd.), vowed not to relinquish the APC senatorial ticket he won at the party’s primaries on May 27, to Akpabio or anyone.

Reacting to this development, Amadi said, “INEC must reject the submission of names of candidates by political parties who want to forcefully and fraudulently replace those who emerged as winners in their primaries.

“Nigeria must get it right in 2023 and INEC has a major role to play in this process, beginning with ensuring that those duly elected by delegates and witnessed by INEC are accepted as candidates.”

He said the group was alarmed at the efforts of some politicians and party leaders to undermine the provisions of the electoral law as regards the submission of nominated candidates to INEC.

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“It is being reported that some high-profile politicians who did not win INEC- monitored primaries of their parties are being submitted by their party leaders, in clear violation of the provisions of the electoral law.

”These politicians contested for other tickets of their parties and lost but are making frantic efforts to get their party’s tickets for other representations from the winners of the primaries.

“If the impunity is allowed, it will send a very wrong signal just as electioneering is about to begin in Nigeria. For our democracy and peace to be preserved, Nigerians must believe in the commission’s ability to ensure fairness.