By Joy Odor
The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu has vowed that the Commission will not be distracted from its duties by the political class who slanders officials of the commission.
Speaking in Abuja after swearing in newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ekiti State, Dr. Tella Adeniran Rahmon, the INEC Chairman warned that such development is capable of derailing electoral process.
Prof. Yakubu said the Commission stands by Mr Mike Igini over allegations of undue interference in the Edo governorship election, describing such allegations as shenanigan.
“We won’t be distracted. We know all these shenanigans, people have been doing this for a long time. It will not distract us from doing what is right.
“My assurance to the people of Edo and the people of Ondo and then the people of the 13 constituencies where we are going to conduct bye-elections on October 31 is that they should expect from INEC free, fair and credible elections; professional conduct.
““We will not compromise our Oath of Office for any reason. Whoever the people vote for becomes their governor or representative. This is our assurance to Nigerians.”
“The REC himself responded and in my discussions with him on Monday, he said he has also asked his lawyers to initiate legal actions against the person who made the statement.
So, we leave it at that since the matter is likely to go to court but let me also say this, that we stand by our Resident Electoral Commissioners.
“We know the kind of job we are doing on the eve of elections. All manner of people come with all manner of accusations to slander officials of the commission and essentially to divert our attention from the onerous task of conducting elections in the country.
It would be recalled that some All Progressives Congress, APC leaders in Edo state had alleged that Mr. Igini may have compromised his position by allegedly working for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state, an allegation the said REC has denied.
On INEC’s preparedness for the Edo election, the INEC Chairman said the commission has consistently expressed its anxiety on the conduct of political actors and their supporters in the state and that it was for that reason that he went to Benin and spent three days last week.
“Part of what we did was to engage with our own staff and ensure that they behave according to the law and we also engaged with the security agencies.
“We visited important stakeholders including the Oba of Benin. So, we are concerned but we are leaving no stone unturned in speaking to the political actors,” he added.
“When we released the timetable for elections, we itemised 14 activities. As of today, we have implemented 12 activities and till today, not one activity was shifted for even one minute.
“Two activities are actually holding today (Tuesday) which are the Publication of the Notice of Polls and the Last Day for the Submission of names of Polling Agents by Political Parties.
“So, we have only two items remaining- the last day for the conduct of campaigns which is the midnight of Thursday before the Saturday of the elections and the last activity is Saturday, 19th September for the conduct of the election and we are making good progress in the case of Ondo.”
While charging Dr. Tella Adeniran Rahmon, the INEC REC, Prof. Yakubu said, “your appointment is coming on the eve of Edo Governorship election which is holding on September 19 and then on October 10, it would be the turn of the people of Ondo State to elect their own governor, then on 31st October, the commission will conduct 14 bye-elections in 10 states of the Federation. So, you are welcome on board. The only business that the commission knows is conducting elections.
“You are going to be responsible for managing resources and personnel in the state you are going to be deployed to. So, you should manage resources prudently.
“You should be firm and always mindful of the fact that ours is an onerous responsibility and you must always be on the side of the Electoral Act, our guidelines and regulations and above all, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The policy of the commission at the moment is to deploy RECs to their geo-political zones but on no account will they serve in their states of origin; not even deployments to assist the sitting RECs in their states of origin. You are hereby deployed to Ekiti State as the Resident Electoral Commissioner.”
