Editorial
EC's shocking decision
The proposal should be withdrawn
WE are appalled at the recent move by the EC to disempower itself by willingly ceding its authority to cancel the candidature of a candidate for gross violation of electoral rules.
The EC proposal to us is rather absurd. At a time when one is talking of strengthening the commission, particularly with the next parliamentary election round the corner, and where there is no meeting of the minds between the two major parties on the modalities of holding next election, abdicating its power will not only weaken the election commission, the proposal, if accepted, will further make the EC's capacity to hold fair elections more tenuous.
In the absence of an effective deterrence i.e prospect of candidature cancellation, there is bound to be more infringements of election rules given the general propensity of the candidates to violate the electoral code of conduct.
The commission's capacity to project itself as an institution capable of holding a free, fair and impartial election, under whatever political dispensation elections to the next parliament are held, is paramount, and something that would remain under very close national and international scrutiny. The commission must not sap but rather invigorate itself even more to demonstrate its reliability as well as capacity to deliver.
We are for a strong and independent election commission. And if there is any lacunae in any existing rule, that can be suitably amended for the cause of fair play and justice, but the entire proviso should not be scrapped.
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