President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday called for the prosecution and punishment of all electoral offenders by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) irrespective of whether they are individual candidates, party leaders, INEC staff or security agents.
Buhari gave the reminder while swearing in the new INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and five national commissioners at the Aso Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said the country needs to move away from mere cancellation of results and ordering of fresh elections, to punishing the offenders whose actions and inactions led to the annulment of the results.
According to him, that is the way to go if the country’s electoral system is to have the needed vigour.
Buhari expressed concern over the justice administration system of the electoral tribunals, saying the justice system should have addressed these shortcomings.
He said: “It would be much better if all whose actions or inactions led to the cancellation of such elections are to be investigated and, if culpable, prosecuted, whether they are individual candidates or party agents, institutions such as political parties, electoral body, or public officers such as electoral staff or security agents.
“Similarly, perpetrators of electoral violence and thuggery should not be spared. Unless our system stops covering up all forms of electoral malpractices, we can hardly get it right. No system endures with impunity.”
Buhari promised to respect the independence of INEC in fulfillment of his campaign promise, saying his government would not by any means interfere with its operations.
He said: “In the conduct of elections, we promised to respect the independence of our electoral body, INEC. We promised non-interference in its activities and, above all, we promised to encourage them to conduct transparently free and fair elections. I hereby pledge to keep that promise.”
Accordingly, he urged the commission not to allow itself to be unduly influenced or subjected to the control of extraneous forces.
“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,” he charged the new officials.
The President also frowned at state electoral bodies that hide under the cover of legal technicalities to deny citizens their rights, vowing that the federal government would protect the citizens at all times.
“I am aware of the federal government’s constitutional constraints in its engagement with the state 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,” he stated.
“To that extent, he said that the Federal Government was considering a different strategy of engagement with state electoral bodies to make them come in sync with INEC with regard to credibility and acceptability to Nigerians.”
Buhari said it was an unfortunate trend that, in almost all the states, the party in government wins all the council elections.
He said: “While there is nothing wrong with that if it is the true wish of the people, but a majority of Nigerians more often than not think it is not, hence they have little respect for the outcome of our council elections. This is responsible for questioning the integrity of such election winners throughout their tenure.
“It’s needless to add that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is not limited to the control of Federal Government alone; there are many states that are APC-controlled. I expect them to do no less in the way they handle their various state electoral commissions.
“All of us, and this includes other political parties, have a responsibility to safeguard the sanctity of democratic values; and the foundation of such values are free association, transparent electoral process and free and fair elections.”
He also stated that the change promised Nigerians by APC government should be all embracing in electioneering in the country.
“It starts from change of attitudes, change of work ethics, change in attitude to corruption and corrupt practices, change of party political conduct – right from primaries to the emergence of candidates and finally, the conduct of elections,” he declared.
I’ll be courageous – Prof. Yakubu
Responding to the President’s address on behalf of INEC, Prof. Yakubu pledged the commitment of the commission to discharge its responsibilities without fear or favour.
“We shall not fail the nation,” he declared.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the ceremony, he added: “The Constitution and also the Electoral Act are very clear. These are the two documents that will guide the operations of INEC under my chairmanship and we will not waver.”
On what he is bringing on board, he said: “Well, we have achieved universal accolades for the successes recorded in the 2015 general elections. I think it is prudent that we are going to consolidate on these elections so that what counts ultimately is the will of the Nigerian people.
“Whoever Nigerians vote for, they should rest assured that their votes will count, and those they vote for will be their representatives at all levels.”
He also said his commission would sustain the use of card readers. “In fact, if there is any value that technology is going to add in addition to the card readers, we will happily introduce that.
“As I said at the screening at the Senate, no more will elections be won and lost at the headquarters of INEC. Whoever wishes to represent Nigerians at whatever level, he or she has access to the ballot box and whatever Nigerians choose is what INEC will uphold.”
According to him, the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states would be strictly conducted in line with the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act.
The elections, he said, would be free, fair and credible like the 2015 elections.
“It is about doing the right thing as enshrined in the Constitution and the Electoral Act. So, yes there will be elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states. As far as INEC is concerned, they are routine matters, governed by the Constitution and the law.
“It is not like we are going to do anything new that Nigerians don’t know. The goal post is not going to shift; Nigerians will know that the elections will be credible as the 2015 general elections were adjudged credible.
“The card reader will be deployed and the permanent voter cards (PVCs) will also be deployed and, thereafter, if there is any value technology can add, we are going to also explore it,” he stated
The INEC national commissioners who took oath of office included Mrs. Amina Zakari, Mr. Solomon Adedeji Soyebi, Prof. Antonia Taiye Okoosi-Simbine, Dr. Muhammed Mustafa Lecky and Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo.
Dignitaries in attendance included Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
-Leadership