Buhari inaugurates new INEC chair, commissioners

Buhari inaugurates new INEC chair, commissioners

Buhari inaugurates new INEC chair, commissioners

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday
inaugurated the new INEC Chairman, Prof.
Mahmood Yakubu, and five national
commissioners of the commission.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony at
the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Buhari
enjoined the new INEC chairman and the
national commissioners to resist undue
external influence.
The President, who enjoined them to
respect the Rule of Law, pledged to
respect the independence of the
commission.
He said, “You must respect the law and
we will hold you bound by the oath,
which you have just taken. The nation
has reposed a lot of trust and confidence
in you. You cannot afford to fail.’’
Buhari also stressed the need for urgent
reform of the State Electoral
Commissions to ensure free and fair
elections and for the protection of
democratic values.
According to him, the Federal
Government is considering a different
strategy of engaging state governments
on how to make state electoral
commissions much freer than many are
today.
He said that he was aware of the Federal
Government’s constitutional constraints
in relation to its engagement with the
state electoral bodies.
He, however, said that it was the
responsibility of the government to
protect the democratic rights of all
citizens, adding that hiding behind the
technicality of law to deny the citizens
rights, was totally unacceptable.
“I am aware of the Federal
Government’s constitutional constraints
in its engagement with the State’s
Electoral Bodies. But the government has
a social responsibility to protect the
democratic rights of all.
“I am of the view that it is totally
unacceptable to hide under the cover of
the technicality of law to deny the
citizens’ rights.
“Accordingly, the Federal Government 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.’’
On electoral petitions tribunal, Buhari
noted with concern the justice being
administered by the judicial officers,
saying that “it is long overdue that our
justice system addresses these
shortcomings.’’
He stated that it is not just enough for an
election to be cancelled and a new one
ordered, but added that perpetrators of
electoral malpractices, violence and
thuggery should as well be sanctioned.
Buhari said that it would be much better
if all whose actions or inactions led to
the cancellation of such election to be
investigated and if culpable prosecuted
whether they were individuals as
candidates or party agents, institutions
such as political party, electoral body, or
public officers as electoral staff or
security agents.
“Unless our system stops covering up all
forms of electoral malpractices we can
hardly get it right. No system endures
with impunity,’’ he said.
Speaking to the State House
correspondents after the swearing-in
ceremony, Yakubu pledged that the
operations of INEC will be guided by the
Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral
Act.
“Well, the job is very clearly cut out; the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria is very clear and also the
Electoral Act.
“These are the two documents that will
guide the operations of INEC under my
chairmanship.
“We have attracted universal accolade
for the success recorded in the 2015
elections. I think is prudent to say that
we are going to consolidate on these
achievements so that what counts
ultimately is the will of the Nigerian
people.
“Whoever Nigerians vote for, they should
be rest assure that their votes would
count and those they vote for would be
their representatives at all levels.’’
In his contribution, Senate President
Bukola Saraki expressed confidence that
the new INEC will not let the country
down.
He noted that they gave “a good account
of themselves’’ during their screening
and confirmation in the Senate chamber