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Nigerians should not expect credible elections as long as
Maurice Iwu remains chairperson of the Independent Electoral commission (INEC),
the National Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Rufai Sani
Hanga has said.

Mr. Hanga, who spoke during the flag off of the party’s
membership registration in Garko local government in Kano State, said as long
as Mr Iwu remains the chairman of INEC, Nigerians should forget about
conducting free and fair election.

Mr. Hanga spoke in reaction to recent views expressed by acting
president Goodluck Jonathan at Washington DC, the United States of America
(USA) that INEC can conduct a free and fair election. Apparently piqued by this
development, Mr. Hanga said:

“I don’t have confidence in the INEC chairman and by extension I
don’t even have confidence in the Acting President himself by suggesting that
Iwu’s INEC can conduct free and fair election. Everyone knows the disaster Iwu
has caused this country in the name of election. How can somebody have
confidence in the same person? Who would you convince in this country that Iwu
can conduct a credible election? Nobody, so how long can we continue to deceive
ourselves as a people?”

Mr. Hanga said the party, which has former military head of
state, Muhammadu Buhari as its major draw, was formed mainly to give Nigerians
an alternative to the PDP. He said the party’s ideology is to have credible
elections at all levels. He said the CPC, whose ideology is built around the
ideals of presidential hopeful, Mr. Buhari, seeks to ensure good governance for
the downtrodden.

“This is a party formed based on ideology,” he said. “Nobody was
given a kobo to participate in the registration exercise, but you can see that
people are rushing to get the membership card. This is significant in our party
we are just beginning but you can see the massive turn out and this is just a
ward level.”

Riding on credibility

He said his colleagues have perfected all strategies to counter
plans by the ruling people Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the 2011 elections.

Mr. Hanga said he is sure that a desire for the manipulation of
the polls was the reason why the acting president is contemplating leaving Mr.
Iwu to continue in office beyond June.

The national chairman of the party, who joined other chieftains
of the party to address a mammoth crowed at the Garko motor park, said his
newly registered party is poised to wrestle power from the incumbent people
Democratic Party (PDP).

“The PDP has money, but we have the credibility,” he said. “We are going to
wrestle power from them through the massive appeal we have in the country.
People believe in us and have tremendous respect for Buhari who is our leader.
PDP are riggers, this time we will not allow them to have their way.”