2011 presidential election not credible as portrayed –Sagay

[Mirror]

The 2011 election that ushered in President Goodluck Jonathan was not as credible and flawless as it has been portrayed.

This revelation was contained in a book written by a prominent constitutional lawyer and scholar, Prof .Itse Sagay (SAN).

The book entitled: "The Enforcement of Electoral Laws and Case Law of 2007 Election Petition Judgments" was recently presented by Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN)

Sagay said: "The South- Eastern and South-South governors were determined to deliver for President Jonathan and they simply went overboard and over delivered, thereby unnecessarily throwing the credibility of the presidential elections in those zones up in smoke".

He, however, said the election was not as flawless as some people would have believed.

While assessing 2007 election, Sagay said: "One of the permanent dents inflicted on our electoral system and jurisprudence was the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to serialise ballot papers used for the 2007 presidential election as required by Section 45 of the Electoral Act 2006.

The author commended the Supreme Court for its decision in Amaechi v Omehia & ors which declared the Amaechi as the Governor of Rivers State although he did not participate in the main election as a result of the indefensible substitution of his name with Omehia's.

National Mirror