Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, has on Wednesday stated that governorship political election can only be free and fair is if there is no record of casualties of violence prompting injury or demise.
He said this while speaking in an interview on Channels TV.
According to him, the main factor to consider in describing an election as free, fair and solid is in case there is no death casualties.
Bishop Kukah noted also that the Independent National Electoral Commission should play a gigantic part to play in guaranteeing the election process ran smooth.
He said;
“The most important parameter to consider the election a success is that nobody needs to lose their life,”
“Too many Nigerians have died unnecessarily. The most important thing is to make sure that nobody loses their life, nobody suffers any unwanted injury.
“It is the responsibility of INEC. The commission has a threshold that constitutes all we can consider free, fair and credible elections.
“But for me, over and above the election won’t be free, fair and credible if one person loses his life.”
Addressing the speculation of a low voter turnout for the gubernatorial election, Kukah cautioned that voter apathy has serious consequences particularly in nations like Nigeria.
He said;
“Voter apathy is rampant across the world but voter apathy in Africa and Nigeria has consequences.
“It is not like the United States and other settled democracies where whether you vote or not, things happen to run on fine.
Whether you elect the right person or not, it will not affect the level of education and health that they have in their environment.
“But for us in Nigeria and in Africa, election is war, a battle of life and survival. In part because if you vote for the wrong person, you could easily become a small dot in a big circle.
“You vote for the wrong person, you could easily end up with no road in your village, or school or health care facility.”
CREDIT: Punch
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