Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Yakubu Mahmood has urged Nigerians to play their part in ensuring elections were devoid of violence and other vices that led to declaring an election inconclusive. He said: “It is not just the responsibility of the Commission but the responsibility of all of us. If we play our role and mitigate violence, because you see the fire smoldering, if no action is taken until it develops into an inferno, it becomes difficult for everybody”.
The INEC Chairman made the call yesterday when members of the INEC Press Corps paid him a courtesy call at the Commissions headquarters Abuja.
Professor Yakubu explained that INEC more than any other stakeholder would want to see elections concluded on first ballot. He said: “We have a responsibility as managers of public trust to Nigerians that we would never declare an election inconclusive for its own sake. This is the hard way of making things work. We will take the criticisms and we will make sure that the votes count and whatever Nigerians decide at the polls is what we eventually collate and declare”.
He pointed out that in all the criticisms thrown at the Commission on inconclusiveness of some elections, the Commission had not been accused of declaring a winner outside the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The INEC Chairman expressed optimism that elections in the country were getting better. He attributed this to the introduction of technology in the electoral process, the emergence of stronger and more competitive political parties, reduction in the margin between leading political parties in an election, and the assurance that every vote counted.
On the spectre of violence that had haunted recently conducted elections, the INEC Chairman argued that: “The quality of an election is a reflection of the quality of the politics of a nation”. He explained that the Commission had concluded elections on first ballot in places where there were little or no violence.
Professor Yakubu assured that the Commission would continue to look at the provisions of the Electoral Act and its guidelines and regulations for elections with a view to addressing some of the perceived challenges for better elections.
He assured members of the INEC Press Corps of the Commission’s highest regard and co-operation, and implored them to acquaint themselves with the relevant laws, guidelines as well as workings of the Commission to assist them in giving sound reportage to the public.
Earlier, Chairman of the INEC Press Corps, Mr Okey Nnabuchi, had said that “no matter how good your electoral reform policies are, it can only achieve desired results when there is a good and conducive working relationship between the Commission and the media (INEC PRESS CORPS)”.
He explained further that: “If the media is not on the same page with new policies and plans of the Commission, it would be easy for people to misinterpret such gestures which ordinarily intend to make a difference in our electoral system”.
Mr. Nnabuchi assured that the Corps would always support the good policies and moves of the Commission geared at making our elections the best in Africa.