The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu

  • Exit, the demon(?)

    Exit, the demon(?)

    Does the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, after a 10-year tour of duty, exit as the electoral demon?  No!

    But it just rivets the Nigerian mind to the ugly finger-pointing and arch-demonizing of election umpires, by foul-tempered Nigerian losers, who pour all venom on electoral managers, in a classic case of a failed artisan blaming his tools!

    To be sure: INEC and allied election managers have not always been above board.  No.  But since the exit of the real demon, Prof. Maurice Iwu, of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s do-or-die electoral heist of 2007, INEC, first under Prof. Attahiru Jega, and then under Prof. Yakubu, has broken new grounds.

    Which is why Yakubu’s exit should have been met with due praise; or at least, a rigorous critique of his tenure: lauding him where he did well and knocking him where he did not.  But some electoral desperadoes, who already wail in advance for the election they would lose in 2027, because they have pretty little to campaign on, have condemned Yakubu and his INEC as eternal devils.  Not so!

    In any case, Bible-speak, the INEC prophet is not without honour, except in his own country, among his own people.  How?  The same demonized INEC is being toasted by Ethiopia electoral managers, who just came to town to understudy INEC’s strides.  Do folks understudy unmitigated failures?  That’s food for thought for the many INEC critics, who seem to spew vitriol before they even think!

    Prof. Yakubu, during his tenure, was certainly not an angel.  He would be Angel the Immaculate, had INEC, under his charge, got everything right.  He wasn’t — as they didn’t.  Logistics on polling days, with complaints of late arrival of the polling staff and materials, is an area the new INEC chair should work upon with all vigour.

    Read Also: Nigeria has exited phase of economic instability — Shettima

    But from the tragic depth Iwu plumbed in 2007, the INEC Yakubu is leaving behind is another life, to borrow the title of that very popular TV series of yore, Another Life (1981-1984), from America’s Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN).

    Indeed, old Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, sensationally declared: you can’t step in the same river twice!  From Iwu to Yakubu, it’s like crossing endless rivers and seeing the difference.  INEC, in terms of public trust, is not exactly where it should be.  But even its bitterest foes would admit that under Yakubu, it strove hard and improved itself.  It must continue on that lonely path.

    But one thing Yakubu’s successor must learn from the exiting good professor: that art — or is it science? — of strategic deafness: that blocks out the market din and imposes severe focus on the work.

    Losers would bleat, row and growl.  But Yakubu’s successor should ensure such din does not distract him — or her.  Yakubu’s lack of loose talk, and golden lack of controversy, is one ethos all INEC staff should imbibe, as they work on better elections still, in the post-Yakubu era.

  • INEC was never prepared for 2019 polls – Balarabe Musa

    Former Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, on Saturday expressed disappointment over the postponement of the general elections, but declared that Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC was never prepared for the exercise in the first place.
    INEC had announced the postponement, few hours to the kickoff of the Feb. 16 Presidential and National Assembly polls.
    Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, while announcing the postponement in Abuja, attributed the step to “overwhelming logistics and operational challenges”.
     The commission fixed Feb. 23 and March 9 as new dates for the  Presidential and National Assembly elections and, the Governorship and State Assembly polls respectively.
    But Musa, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),  in Kaduna on Saturday, said he was disappointed, but not surprised, at the development.
    “I am not surprised because INEC was never ready for the exercise, given the level of its preparations.
    “INEC had serious funding challenges; what was appropriated to the commission by the National Assembly was not adequate and everyone knew it.

    Read also: INEC chairman speaks on postponement of polls

     “We are not even sure if the approved amount was released to the electoral body by the Federal Government.
    “The logistics and operational challenges are glaring. There are also serious security challenges that may affect the agency in the course of the elections.
    “The security services are facing the same funding crises and most of them are living in fear.
    “You can also see the serious challenges being faced by the  Judiciary, who are supposed to play a major role in the election process,” Musa said.
    “So, I must say that I am disappointed, but, again, as I said, I am not surprised.
    “I hope that  all the stakeholders will take the  necessary measures to help INEC address the issues before Feb, 23, the new date for the Presidential polls, because the President can only handover power to an elected person.”
    Musa called on Nigerians to remain calm, while waiting for the new dates for the polls. (NAN)

  • 2019: INEC deeply concerned over security

     

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday expressed deep concerns over adequate security before, during and after the 2019 general elections.

    Its chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu identified security as a major challenge facing the success of the polls.

    Yakubu, who spoke in Abuja at the Police/stakeholders’ security summit organised by the Nigeria Police Force, however said the commission will engage with security agencies in defining new parameters for the deployment of security agencies in the electoral process.

    He also urged the security agencies to maintain professionalism and neutrality.

    He said: “As with all elections, security is going to be a major issue in the 2019 general election.

    “The agencies have a responsibility to secure the environment for elections.

    “In doing so, there is the overriding responsibility for professionalism and neutrality.

    “The rules of engagement must be clear to all. Learning from the cumulative experience of the off-season elections conducted into 195 constituencies since the 2015 general election, the conduct of some security personnel has become a major issue of discussion. We are deeply concerned.”

    The INEC boss also noted it was important to review the template for the general elections to reassure Nigerians and international community of the commission’s preparedness to conduct free, fair and transparent elections.

    He assured the commission will continue to work with law enforcement agencies for the arrest and prosecution of violators of the electoral act.

    Speaking on INEC preparedness for the polls, Yakubu said the commission has already implemented six out of the fourteen activities as outlined in the timetable and schedule of activities.

    Yakubu also pointed out “there is intense interest nationally and around the world in the 2019 general election. In just a matter of weeks, some international observers will begin the deployment of their long-term observation missions for the election.”

    On Permanent Voter Cards(PVCs), he said the commission has successfully completed the printing for new registrants.

     

  • 35 parties to participate in Ekiti guber poll

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said on Tuesday that 35 political parties would participate in the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State.

    There are 68 registered political parties in the country.

    Yakubu disclosed this after hosting a delegation of female parliamentarians in West Africa.

    The delegation was led by Assaita Daffe.

    The visiting team was at the INEC headquarters to formally present ECOWAS publication on Gender and Election Strategic Framework and Action Plan.

    While disclosing that the timeline for submission of candidates’ names has elapsed, Yakubu said there is still room for any of the 35 political parties to substitute candidates if necessary.

    He had earlier assured the visiting team that the Commission was committed to working with political parties in achieving increased women representation in politics.

     

  • INEC to investigate reports of under-aged voting

    INEC to investigate reports of under-aged voting

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, said on Friday the Commission would investigate allegations of voting by under-aged persons in last weekend’s local government election in Kano State.

    Yakubu, who spoke in Lagos, also said INEC would study the sequence of elections recently adopted by the National Assembly for next year’s polls ahead of a firm decision on the matter.

    He said an INEC national commissioner would next week lead a team to Kano State for an immediate and comprehensive investigation of reports of under-aged voting which has gone viral on the internet.

    He said: “The eligibility for registration as a voter in Nigeria is clearly defined in Section 12 (1) of the Electoral Act.

    “This includes citizenship, residence and the attainment of the mandatory age of 18 years.

    “Recent reports of violations by under-aged persons following the local government elections in Kano State are deeply disturbing.

    “It is true that the State Independent Electoral Commission had requested INEC for a copy of the voter register. I can confirm also that a soft copy of the register was made available to the state. The voter register in Kano State is the one used for the 2015 general election.

    “In July 2016, INEC used the same register to conduct a State Assembly bye-election in Minjibir Constituency which has 78,210 registered voters spread across 126 polling units clustered in 11 Registration Areas (Wards).

    “In that election conducted by INEC, no single incidence of under-aged voter was recorded. What therefore happened in the last local government election conducted by the State Electoral Commission? Was the voter register actually used or not?

    “We wish to assure Nigerians that the matter will be fully investigated. A National Commissioner from INEC will lead a team to Kano next week involving technical staff of the Commission drawn from the Voter Registry (VR), Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the Electoral Operations (EOps) Departments for an immediate and comprehensive investigation. We will share the findings of the investigation with Nigerians. I wish to assure Nigerians that going forward, we will interrogate the voter register nationwide in order to purge it of any possible ineligible registrants.”

    On the National Assembly amendment to the order of election, he said the INEC is still guided by the order of election released in January 2018.

    He, however, said the latest amendment to the electoral laws would be studied by the Commission and action taken at the appropriate time.

     

     

  • Moneybags confident to buy Anambra election – stakeholders

    Moneybags confident to buy Anambra election – stakeholders

    Stakeholders on Tuesday warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that wealthy people are determined to procure the November 18, Anambra State governorship election.

    Speaking in Abuja on “Anambra Governorship Election: Critical Issues and What INEC should do to ensure. Successful polls, the Lead Speaker who is also the Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Stella Okunna, warned the commission that “some members of the wealthy class believe they can buy anything including election results.”

    Meanwhile, the INEC had revealed why the election is important to it.

    According to the National Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, the electorate in the state lost confidence in the commission since a court upturned its election after two years.

    He said the commission also “repeated the same mistake in 2007 the commission also tried to conduct an illegal election to replace him and again he went back to court and consistently fought for his mandate and got it back.”

    The chairman, who was represented by the Board of Electoral Institute at the policy dialogue for the election, however, noted that it would no longer be business as usual in the state. 

    But Okunna lamented although citizens of the state have distinguished themselves in different fields of human endeavour, they have been notorious in politics because of their excessive money. 

    She submitted that too much wealth has always marred election in the state, noting that too much money is already is exchanging hands.

    According to her, there is an allegation that some of the candidates were already buying vehicles for INEC now that the election is fast approaching. 

    The lead speaker argued that for the state governor to purchase vehicles for the commission at this critical time is suspicious because it could influence the conduct of the umpire. 

    Okunna said although the state is now relatively peaceful, the commission must not take anything for granted as there have recently been pockets of security challenges such as the killings in a church and that of the distributor of the Sun Newspapers the same state.

    The Don urged the commission to display its voters’ registers for the electorate to cross-check their names before the election.

    On election monitoring, she noted that there are coalitions of election observers in the state which INEC must monitor.

    She submitted that “Anambra is on the threshold of history as a Guinnea pig for credible election in Nigeria. Expectations are very high and there are those that are watching us fail.”

    In his presentation, the President, International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC) and Chairman Anambra  State Civil Society Network (ANCSONET), Prince Chris Azor, described money inducement as another critical issue in the November 18 election.

    He said that past experience showed a massive distribution of funds even on election day in the state with impunity, under the watchful eyes of security operatives and election management officials.

    Continuing, he condemned these of campaign finance, corrupt electoral campaign financing-whether by private donors or government incumbents commandeering state resources-is damaging not only to the electoral process but to democracy itself. Political finance regulations are intended to create a level playing field for electoral competition.”

    He raised the alarm that there are already proliferations of arms in the country, stressing that a recent survey by the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and light weapons in the state revealed a humongous cache of ammunition in private hands that posits danger to the election.

  • INEC to deploy adequate technology for 2019 elections – Yakubu

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will deploy adequate technology for the 2019 general election, the Commission’s chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, has said.

    Prof. Yakubu, who led his national commissioners on a visit to the Senate on Thursday, said the latest amendment to Electoral Act has given the commission ample room to use electronic voting at the poll.

    The Senate had last week, approved electronic voting for the 2019 general elections among other amendments.

    Prof. Yakubu said, “This is the most technologically friendly amendment to the Electoral Act in the history of this country. All the encumbrances to the deployment of the technology in elections have now been addressed.

    “So INEC has the free hand to fully employ appropriate technology in the conduct of our elections. This is all the more remarkable because the deployment of technology helped the 2015 general elections, and I want to assure you that we are going to deepen the use of technology in the conduct of elections.”

    The INEC chief expressed satisfaction with the Senate for the timely passage of the amendment long before the 2019 elections, contrary to past amendments that used to come two days to election.

    “One of the problems we have had as a nation is that amendments to the Electoral Act come on the eve of elections. For instance, the last amendment was assented to two days to the last general elections.

    “So the document only came to light after the elections. But here we are, two clear years to the elections, we have the bill passed by the Senate.

    “What the Senate has done is all the more remarkable because this is one of the most extensive amendments to the Act. We worked with the Senate Committee on INEC and we produced our own submissions.

    “I am happy to say that virtually all the submissions were taken care of, including some of the developments in the bill that challenged our electoral jurisprudence; Kogi was one.”

     

     

  • TMG tackles INEC over inconclusive polls

    TMG tackles INEC over inconclusive polls

    The newly inaugurated Chairman of the Transition Monitoring Group, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Monday said condemned the comment by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, that Nigerians should not expect a conclusive election in 2019,

    She urged the Commission to conclude the 2019 general elections, for it to be taken serious by the local and international community.

    Speaking in Abuja shortly after her inauguration, she also advocated electoral offences commission to address all forms of electoral irregularities including violence and immunities.

    The civil society, she said, must consolidate their work with the Nigerian people and set agenda that will guarantee good governance and accountability.

    She said, “One major concern to the polity is the re-occurring problems of inconclusive elections which TMG is poised to work with other stakeholders to address so that subsequent elections are duly concluded, legitimate and reflect the wishes of the voters and the general populace. This task becomes the more urgent with the recent position of the Chairman of INEC, that the electoral umpire cannot guarantee the Nigerian people conclusive polls come 2019; that is a defeatist statement which does not augur well for the country.”

    Akiyode-Afolabi said, while it is true that chronic insecurity in the electoral space has been largely responsible for the inconclusiveness of recent elections, INEC has an important role to play “if we must address all inconclusiveness in the electoral process.”

    “The commission must be proactive in putting systems in place and in educating voters in electoral constituencies to help them understand the realities of the process. We are therefore call for an Electoral Offences Commission to address electoral impunity,” she suggested.

    She said while Nigeria stands in dire need of a formidable force to entrench democratic values through credible elections, no other coalition or organisation in Nigeria is better positioned to achieve this feat than TMG.

    “In essence, we all have a historic responsibility to make the aspirations Nigerians come true by empowering them to demand, defend and claim their electoral rights and holding our leaders and the system accountable. The task before us is to engage the civic space and other critical stakeholders, to ensure election results reflect the wishes of the people. This is the road to travel to ensure effective representation at all levels of government, without which good governance would not be possible.

    “On our part, TMG on my watch will provide the leadership required by civil society to engage the most fundamental issues facing the electoral process. We have an electoral law that deserves review; there is the impunity in the system which we must never be tired of mobilising Nigerians to reject. However, we will not achieve these laudable goals without a united front. I therefore seek a united front and urge everyone to join hands with us as begin this important journey,” Akiyode-Afolabi stated.

  • INEC conducts 137 elections in nine months – Yakubu

    ….IPAC promises to intervene in PDP crisis

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu Monday revealed that the commission has conducted 137 rerun elections in the last nine months.

    The Commission has scheduled five more elections, which includes the two governorship elections, Edo and Ondo states and also two other rerun elections scheduled for this weekend in Sokoto and Oyo states.

    Prof. Yakubu spoke when he received an audience led by the outgoing factional leader of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Bashir, accompanied by the newly elected chairman, Mohammed Lawal Naldo of the Accord Party and other executive members.

    Yakubu noted that the commission under his watch has conducted the highest number of rerun elections in the history of the commission outside election calendar.

    He said, “Since the new commission was sworn-in, November last year, we have so far conducted nothing less than 137 elections, ranging from bye elections.”

    He therefore said for the commission to succeed in its mandate, it will continue to rely on the cooperation and support of IPAC.

    INEC boss also commended the group for closing up its gap, especially when the commission waded into the leadership crisis, which led to the fractionalization of the group.

    He described a unified IPAC as an effective medium to communicate with all the political parties in the country.
    Yakubu also sort the support of the group in the amendment process of the electoral law.

    Meanwhile, the newly elected Chairman of IPAC, Naldo has said that the group was going to wade into the ongoing crisis in People’s Democratic Party, (PDP).

    Naldo who will effectively take over on 25th August 2016 said since all the political parties are members of IPAC, it was the responsibility of the group to ensure peace and harmony in the political parties, including PDP.

    Consequently, he said once he assume office, he was going to set a committee that will look into the crisis rocking the one time ruling party in the country with the aim of ensuring that all the rancour in the party comes to an end.

    He also assured INEC that the group under his watch will continue to give support to INEC, who he described as a strong stakeholder in the democratic process.

  • Court to INEC chairman: Come for contempt proceedings

    Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to appear in court and answer contempt proceedings against them.

    Justice Tsoho gave the order while ruling on arguments on whether or not the physical presence of INEC and its chairman was necessary for the court to determine the contempt proceedings initiated against them by Ejike Oguebego and Chuks Okoye – Chairman and Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State.

    The judge rejected the argument by lawyer to INEC and Yakubu, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), that the nature of the contempt proceedings against his clients was civil and could be determined without their physical presence.

    Justice Tsoho said whether civil or criminal, contempt proceedings are always quasi-criminal, which required the physical presence of the alleged contemnor in court for him/her to be heard on whether or not the order of committal should be made.

    Relying on the provisions of Order 9 Rule 14 of the Judgment Enforcement Rules, Justice Tsoho said it was the duty of the court’s Registrar to issue and serve Forms 48 and 49 on parties in disobedience of court’s order for them to attend court, failing which a bench warrant may be issued against the alleged contemnors  to attend court and show cause why order of committal should not be made against them.

    “I hold that the alleged contemnors are under obligation to appear before this court to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against them,” the judge said.