THOMAS IMONIKHE and BISIRIYU OLAOYE

Special Assistant, Media, to the INEC chairman, Mr Andy Ezeani who flayed the threat said members of CNPP were probably afraid of the challenges posed by the 2007 elections.

But in his reaction, former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (rtd) urged the government to address the issues raised by the CNPP in the interest of democracy in the country.

Daily Champion recalls that CNPP chairman and second republic governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa Wednesday called for the removal of INEC chairman, Professor Maurice Iwu and his replacement by a retired Supreme Court justice among five conditions under which 27 political parties in CNPP would participate in the elections.

He further demanded that registered political parties be allowed to nominate members into a reconstituted INEC.

Reacting however, Mr Ezeani told Daily Champion that those calling for the commission’s disbandment were the same people who could not proffer suggestions on how to ensure future hitch-free elections when they were challenged during a recent meeting with INEC in Abuja.

Said he: "When they were challenged to proffer the way forward, they said they had nothing to offer... They are probably afraid that they cannot meet the challenges of 2007 elections".

However, on his part, Commodore Ukiwe, urged the Federal Government to address the issues raised by CNPP on Wednesday, adding that the parties’ threat to boycott 2007 polls "is an act of compromise to improve governance."

Speaking with newsmen yesterday in Lagos, Commodore Ukiwe who said INEC should not be scrapped, however, stated that it should be restructured if necessary, describing INEC commissioners as people of proven integrity.

INEC is an umpire, scrapping it will mean sacking the umpire when the game is on. Scrapping INEC at this time will bring chaos. The people there are men of integrity. If there is any need for government to restructure it, it should do so.

I’m not totally convinced that members of the parties clamouring for representation in INEC are themselves paragon of beauty. INEC should be looked at properly to give us free and fair elections.

"The threat by the registered political parties under the aegis of Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) to boycott the April 2007 elections, should be regarded as an act of comprise to improve governance.

"What government needs to do now is to look into the threat and address the issues raised by these parties. They should chart a way forward for good governance," Ukiwe further said.