| (f) to take steps to ensure that there are secure conditions necessary for the conduct of any election in accordance with this Act or other law.”
It is apparent however that these powers are on paper only, as the Commission is not equipped to exercise them. This, in my view, creates a lacuna. Because of that, when the Petitioner and other candidates raised issues of security, violence and intimidation, with the Commission, the Commission had in turn to appeal to the Inspector General of Police, Army Commander, and apparently as a last resort, to the Commander—in Chief, who also happened to be a contesting candidate. If the Commission is to be the impartial arbiter, with the duty to ensure secure conditions for elections; and also to ensure that the entire electoral process is conducted in conditions of freedom and fairness, then it ought to be equipped to exercise these powers. It seems to me that there is urgent need for those concerned to give serious consideration to the lacuna, with a view to rectifying it.
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