The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has stated that both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the federal government have shown themselves to be incapable of conducting free and fair elections.

The organization is determined to resist any forces of unitarianism in Nigerian politics.

This declaration was made in a communique following a meeting at Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State, at the residence of its leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo.

Afenifere believes that the current political actions in the country are designed to suppress democracy.

The communique reads, “Afenifere resolved to, in due course and soon, mobilise and join democratic forces with all lovers of Nigeria against all tenets, tendencies, pretences, policies and practices of unitarianism in the Nigerian body of politics.

“Afenifere notes the introduction of a bill to establish a National Independent Local Government Electoral Commission, NILGEC, for the conduct of Local Government elections and considers the idea as nothing but a monumental multiplication of INEC’s inefficiencies at 774 degrees.

“The idea of a federal agency to conduct local government elections is a veritable weapon in furtherance of the undisguised policy of complete capture and absolute unitarianism of the Nigerian Federation by the Central Government, a policy that has attained its crescendo under the present administration.

“Afenifere decries all forms of political rascality aimed at stifling democracy by the two tiers of the Nigerian government structure and equally condemns in unmistakable terms political gerrymandering pushing Nigeria into a unitary state by wielders of transient political power contrary to the existential covenant of federalism.

“The Federal Government and its INEC have proven not better at conducting the limited elections with which they are saddled by the Constitution.”