INEC Boss Attributes ‘Inconclusive Elections’ To Improvement Of The System

Prof. Mahmud Yakubu

CHAIRMAN of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, yesterday stated that the improvement on the electoral system was responsible for the numerous verdicts of ‘inconclusive elections’ conducted by the commission
 

The INEC Chairman spoke in Lagos yesterday at a meeting with media executives stressing that the commission’s determination to ensure that elections are free and fair in the country was largely responsible adding that the action was clearly envisaged in the Nigerian Constitution, hence concluded that such actions implied that elections are getting better and votes are beginning to count.

Emphatically, the INEC boss said the commission after necessary reviews discovered that all instances of inconclusive elections were in areas where stakeholders adopted the tradition of ‘do or die’ approach, thereby perpetrated various acts of intimidation against the opponents, elecotates as well as the commission’s workforce.

“There has been a revolution in our elections since 2015, particularly with the introduction of technology, but we haven’t come to grips with this reality. Elsewhere, it is normal to have this kind of (inconclusive) election. It is a requirement in democracy that votes must count, and people must ultimately determine who the winner is.

“If a presidential election turns out inconclusive, it is envisaged under the Constitution. But it is near impossible to conduct a supplementary election between the two leading candidates within seven days as provided for by the law. As we speak, we have 120,000 polling units in Nigeria, spread nationwide. We have to print the ballot paper, deliver the ballots to all the states and all the polling units, and mobilise the staff to conduct the elections. It is impossible to do that within seven days. Thank God it has never happened. But the fact is that it is envisaged under the law, and that means it may actually happen.

“In the discussions that I have listened to and what I have read so far, I have not heard anyone accuse the Commission of declaring elections inconclusive outside the provisions of the law – especially Sections 26 and 53 of the Electoral Act.

“That is the context that we should put the inconclusive elections. In 2011, the governorship election in Imo State was inconclusive because of votes outstanding in four local governments. In 2015, we had inconclusive elections again in Imo, Abia and Taraba states. The results were declared after supplementary elections were conducted. In-between 2011 and 2015, we had an inconclusive election in 2013 in Anambra State. So, this trend is backed up both by legal provisions and our experience”, he said.