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.
Meanwhile, Yakubu has assured that he would be courageous and guided by the Constitution and Electoral Act in the discharge of his assignment.
He made the pledge at INEC headquarters while assuming office in Abuja.
He said that he would not be deterred in spite of insinuation that his responsibility was enormous and difficult.
“I am not sure that it is really difficult; this is simply because the Constitution is very clear.
“The roles and responsibilities of INEC are very clearly spelt out and the provisions of the Electoral Act are also very clear.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that in whatever we do, we are guided by the letter and spirit of the Constitution, and these we are going to do with courage.
“Whatever we need to do, we will ensure that it is done courageously and according to the law,’’ he said.
Yakubu promised to be just to all and never to fail the expectations of Nigerians in his new role, maintaining that he loved hard tasks.
“One of my bosses used to say that the public office has tenure, a minimum of one day and a maximum of the tenure.
“In the case of the INEC, it is a minimum of a one day and a maximum of five years; in-between is the privilege to serve. We will never ever fail this nation.
“We will be courageous in what we do, and we will be courageous and just to all that we are supposed to serve,’’ he said.
Yakubu also pledged to build on the successes recorded by his predecessor, especially in the conduct of the 2015 general elections.
“We have come a long way; we have had commendations both locally and internationally, on the conduct of the 2015 general elections.
“As I said at the senate screening, our responsibility as a new commission is actually to consolidate and add value.
“Nations don’t make progress by always starting a fresh; nations make progress because there is a building block which we will now build more,’’ he said.
He commended the outgoing acting chairman of the commission, Hajia Amina Zakari, for holding forth, and called for cooperation and understanding of all staff of the commission.
Earlier, Zakari had said that the inauguration of the new commission members had assuaged the fears of Nigerians about its ability to conduct upcoming elections in Bayelsa and Kogi.
Zakari said that under her watch, the commission successfully conducted two by-elections and had seriously prepared for the coming governorship polls.
She said that INEC was committed to conducting free and fair elections ‘’in a credible manner, based on international best practices’’.
“With the new members of the commission, we are fully ready to conduct those two elections.
“We have not rested on our oars in the last four months; we have tried to maintain the services of INEC to the best of our ability.
“We hope by the time the commission settles down, it will not be difficult to continue where we have left,’’ Zakari said.
Zakari who acted for four months, appreciated the members of the commission for keeping pace with the electoral reform and ensuring continues service to the nation, even when the commission was not fully constituted.
She expressed the hope that the commission would continue to deliver on the expectations of Nigerians.
