TheCable

Olusegun Mobolaji, the Lagos state chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), says Nigeria needs an improved electoral system where elections will be conducted without being monitored by agents of political parties.

Mobolaji spoke on Thursday in an interview with NAN.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to come up with strategies that would make elections credible without the need for monitoring by party agents.

He said party agents sometimes compromise elections at various polling units or wards, adding that some political parties lack the financial strength to hire agents for election monitoring.

“We should get to a point in 2027 in this country where elections are conducted without political parties’ agents,” he said.

“In fact, if we get to that point where the electoral umpire can be so much believed to be fair to all parties and it can conduct credible polls without being monitored by anyone, the better for us.

“Let us improve in our elections and let INEC do the job without being influenced. Let people vote while INEC counts as it is, without being influenced by any agents.

“Let it be INEC officials all through or ad-hoc staff employed; you will see that there will  be a difference.”

He said vote buying and selling, as well as other manipulations, would be reduced if INEC could improve election  conduct and gain credibility.