2015: Federal Govt Does Not Want To Conduct Credible Election, Bamisile Alleges

A social commentator and lawyer, Mr. Rasheed Bamisile, said it was embarrassing that the budget was released by the Federal Government in piece meal.

He said releasing the money in tranches was an indication that the Federal Government was not prepared for the smooth conduct of the much expected elections, especially if approval of the INEC budget was total.

Bamisile said, “Before the sum of the N45bn initially given to the INEC was released, there must have been approval by the ministry of finance or any other relevant government agency. So, withholding part of the money budgeted for the execution of the elections may be interpreted to mean that government is already putting a spanner in the wheel of the electoral process.”

According to him, the development may mar the credibility of the elections as some of the electoral officials may be lured or compromised by corrupt politicians, if their emoluments are not promptly paid by the INEC.

Bamisile said, “The general elections are less than two months away and if the remaining N75bn is not released to the INEC in the first week of January for the commission to address some likely challenges in terms of logistics, it means the commission will have to use one vehicle to convey election materials to about four or five local government areas and if this is the case, there is possibility that the credibility of election may be marred.

“The election may not be rigged, but if the process is underfunded, its credibility can still be doubted. The development can also affect the credibility of the INEC Chairman.”

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