"I HAVE PASSED THE STAGE OF BEING INTIMIDATED"...INEC CHAIRMAN

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

The uproar from the Kano state conducted local government elections has continued generate reactions with the most recent being from the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

The INEC boss, in a reaction to the outcome of the election conducted in Kano state declared that "he has passed the stage where he can be intimidated".



Yakubu made this assertion in an.interview he granted as he "vowed not to bow to pressure in light of concerns about voter registration and accusations by politicians that INEC could not be trusted to conduct free and fair elections".

It would be recalled that only recently, the Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike, said "the report of under-age voting in Kano had damaged confidence in INEC".

Despite the statements accredited to the Rivers state Governor, Prof. Yakubu said both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been making uncomplimentary comments about the commission.

“I have passed the stage where someone can.intimidate me to do what is wrong", Yakubu stated.

“I have passed that stage, where I can be intimidated, with due respect. And the real test is in what we have done (178 ‘mini’ elections) so far. The most interesting thing for me is that both parties accuse us equally".

"So, that means we are doing something right", he assured.

According to the INEC chairman, "I have never faced any pressure from the presidency, or any other quarters, to bend the rules".

Poorly conducted elections are a recipe for disaster,Yakubu said while also adding that INEC under him would not take Nigeria to such path.

“We know that poorly conducted elections are a recipe for disaster… we will never tread that path”, Mahmood Yakubu said.

Speaking on the underage voting exercise which occured in Kano state, the INEC boss has this to say;

“These are elections that are not the legal and constitutional
responsibilities of INEC. There are legal entities that conduct local and government elections in this country".

“So, on what basis are we going to prosecute electoral offenders in an election in which INEC is not legally responsible for?”

But when reminded that potential abuse of INEC’s register was enough basis for prosecution,  the INEC Chairman said, the argument could also be stretched to other agencies involved in the process, including the police.