President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday promised to respect the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), by not interfering with its operations, but encourage the conduct of transparently free and fair elections.
This is even as he pledged to fulfil the electoral promises of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government for Change in electioneering adding that it would be all embracing.
“It starts from change of attitudes, change of work ethics, change in attitude to corruption and corrupt practices, change of party political conduct-right from primaries to the emergence of candidates and finally the conduct of elections, ” the President said while swearing in the new INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu and commissioners.
The Council of States had at its meeting last month, confirmed the appointment of the new INEC chairman and five national commissioners for the electoral body. They commissioners include: Amina Zakari, northwest; Anthonia Okoosi-Simbine, north central; Baba Shettima Arfo, northeast, Soyebi Adedeji Solomon, southwest and Mohammed Mustafa Lecky from the South-South.
The Buhari led government, he said, will in the conduct of elections, respect the independence of the electoral body, by not interfering in its activities but will encourage them to conduct transparently free and fair elections.
He said he expects the APC states to also keep this promise, adding that “all of us, and this includes other political parties have a responsibility to safe-guard the sanctity of democratic values; and the foundation of such values are free association, transparent electoral process and free and fair elections”.
Noting the Federal Government’s constitutional constraints in its engagement with the State’s Electoral Bodies, the President noted that it is totally unacceptable to hide under the cover of the technicality of law to deny the citizens’ rights. Accordingly, the Federal Government, he said is considering a different strategy of engagement with State Governments on how to make state electoral commissions much freer than many are today.
“In almost all the States, the Party of the sitting government wins all the Council Elections, while there is nothing wrong with that if it is the true wish of the people , but majority of Nigerians more often than not think it is not, hence have little respect for the outcome of our council elections. This is responsible for questioning the integrity of such election winners throughout their tenure” he said.
Another area of concern, the President said is the justice administration of the Electoral Tribunals. He said addressing the electoral shortcomings was long overdue adding that all found culpable in the cancellation as well as those involved in electoral violence and thuggery, during an election should be prosecuted. “Unless our system stops covering up all forms of electoral malpractices we can hardly get it right. No system endures with impunity” he adds.
He charged them to uphold the law and shun external influences. “The Nation has reposed a lot of trust and confidence in you. You cannot afford to fail” he said.
The INEC chairman who responded on behalf of the newly sworn in commissioners, pledged commitment in the discharge of duties, without fear or favour. “We shall not fail the nation” he said.
Elizabeth Archibong
