The Concerned Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have rejected the call by a grieving aspirant for the resignation of the Chairperson, Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KADSIECOM) Hajiya Hajara Muhammad.
Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna on Wednesday, the Spokesperson and Co-Chair, OGP Kaduna, Mubarak Abdulganiyi said the group is compelled to respond to the aspirant who alleged disenfranchisement by KADSIECOM, calling it unwarranted and detrimental to the ongoing efforts to maintain transparency, integrity, and stability in the electoral processes of Kaduna State.
Mubarak stated that the call fails to take into consideration, the clear constitutional mandates governing the role of the KADSIECOM Chairperson.
“KADSIECOM was established as an independent body to oversee and manage Electoral processes in Kaduna State.
“It is not only a constitutional body but one designed to operate without undue influence or coercion from any political actor or group.
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“A sudden demand for the resignation of the KADSIECOM Chairperson, especially without any credible proof of misconduct or failure in her duties, would set a dangerous precedent.
“The Electoral Commission operates within a framework defined by law and constitutional norms that guarantee its Independence and safeguard it from arbitrary actions.
Mubarak added that the primary grievance of the Aspirant appears to center around alleged disenfranchisement, lacks substantial evidence to support the allegation.
“As of now, there has been no concrete or verifiable evidence provided by the Aspirant to support claims of disenfranchisement.
“This can potentially undermine the faith of the public in a system that is designed to protect and enhance democracy.
He opined that, demands for the resignation of public officials, especially those in independent institutions, should be based on verifiable evidence of wrongdoing and not on the basis of dissatisfaction with Electoral outcomes.
“If every Electoral Officer were to be pressured out of office whenever an aspirant felt unsatisfied with the process, it would destabilize the electoral system, breed insecurity, and erode the public’s trust in Electoral bodies.
However, the CSOs urged the Aspirant to follow legal channels for the redress of grievances rather than resorting to public smear campaigns against key officials.
“We believe that the Chairperson has demonstrated a high level of professionalism, competence, and dedication to ensuring the integrity of the Electoral processes.
“Any legitimate concerns about the conduct of elections should be addressed through appropriate legal channels rather than through baseless accusations and inflammatory public discourse.
The CSOs called on stakeholders to stand in solidarity with the institutions that protect Nigeria’s democracy and urged all to join hands in ensuring that the upcoming Elections in Kaduna State are free, fair, and credible.
“While we, as CSOs, uphold the right of every individual to express their concerns about electoral processes, we must, however, ensure that such expressions do not mislead the public, disrupt governance or weaken our Democratic institutions.
“At this critical point in our Democratic evolution, it is essential that all political aspirants and stakeholders exercise restraint in their public comments and actions.
“It is our collective duty to safeguard the credibility of these Institutions, especially KADSIECOM, which plays a pivotal role in our state’s Democratic development.
“We urge the aspirant and all those who share similar sentiments to approach any concerns with maturity and respect for legal processes.
“We also call on the aspirant and other political actors to refrain from actions that may further divide the people of Kaduna State or undermine the public’s confidence in the electoral processes.
