Abuja — Ahead of the 2011 general elections in Nigeria, the co-ordinator of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), Mr. Ayo Opadokun, has said that Nigeria was heading for anarchy if nothing was done about the nation's electoral reform.

Opadokun disclosed this yesterday when he and his team paid a visit to the corporate headquarters of LEADERSHIP Newspapers in Abuja. He stated that when a nation got to the state of hopelessness just like Nigeria, the consequence was anarchy.

"When a nation gets to the state of hopelessness, the resultant consequence is anarchy. The next 2011 election, therefore, will worsen, certainly leading to a situation where those who lost out during the 1999, 2003 and 2007 election will most likely take their destiny in their hands because they know the court will not grant them any justice, so violence will meet violence," he said.

According to him, Nigerians do not need any form of violence or mutual self-destruction, saying the nation has failed to respond to its divine destiny to lead and provide leadership to the entire black race since the country is the most populous in Africa.

He disclosed that CODER as a group will ensure that credible election is carried out, as well as make the electorate's votes count.

"CODER will work with other Nigerians to educate, conscientise and mobilise Nigerians not only to vote but to dispense their votes legitimately, as well as make the peoples' vote count during elections," he stated.

Commenting on the Justice Muhammadu Uwais report, the co-ordinator called on the Nigerian government to stand by the report, saying, "We don't see why the government will fail to abide by Uwais report."

According to him, the report is critical to them and supported that no sitting government must appoint people into key positions as recommended by the Uwais report.

He opined that the nation's voting system be an open sacred one, saying it would not allow for electoral fraud and CODER will ensure that this happens.

"We are mobilising Nigerians, including the media, to educate Nigerians to see the importance of ensuring that the next election and the peoples' vote count," he disclosed.

Opadokun said CODER has an agenda to make Nigerians' votes count since it is the only weapon or leverage they have over those in places of authority, stressing that legitimacy be restored to governance for once.

CODER condemned the government for not being responsive to the need of the people.

The coordinator while calling for the support of leadership newspapers and the media in general to make Nigerians' votes count, said the National Assemblymust be properly engaged to make this happen.

"The National Assembly have not been properly engaged, they have been eating their cakes and having it, and this has to stop", he said.

He revealed that three out of the recomemndations of Uwais report were critical to CODER since it is stressing that no sitting executive must appoint the electoral commissioner, saying no one will allow an unfriendly person preside over an election he/she is contesting for, stating it is abnormal.

He said the level of corruption is mind-bogling and condemned the failure of social service across the nation.

"Social services in Nigeria have been run down completely. You cannot boast of anything, must be a local government on your own, sink borehole to have water, buy generator to power your set, people are already collaborating to construct roads themselves. So social services are at the worst ebb. Infrastructures have decayed terribly".

The coordinator opined that Nigeria deserves a credible institution that will make its electoral commission dependable and credible.