The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), Nigeria, Prof Mahmood Yakubu has reaffirmed the Commission's
commitment and determination to deliver credible elections in Nigeria in 2019,
which will embody the concepts of inclusiveness, transparency and
accountability, by also ensuring that established rules are fully, fairly and
impartially enforced, reports ITREALMS.
“At the risk of stating the obvious, let me say that INEC is
deeply committed to democratic elections in the belief that the outcome can contribute
to political stability and consolidation of democracy, which will foster rapid
economic progress,” the INEC boss said in Lagos on Thursday, 15th November,
while delivering the 6th Anniversary Lecture of Realnews Magazine, one of
Nigeria’s pioneer online magazines.
Yakubu, who is also President, governing board of the ECOWAS
Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC), explained that INEC “continues to
think innovatively and to consolidate several tools” towards addressing
emerging challenges related to the delivery of credible elections in Nigeria,
whose registered voters are more than the populations of several African
countries combined.
He, however, said that “INEC alone cannot do the job,” and
therefore “counts on the goodwill and collaborative partnership of other
stakeholders.”
The INEC boss gave a run-down of the Commission's
preparations for the 2019 polls, and also identified seven challenges that
could impact smooth electoral process in Nigeria. According to him, these
include the "do or die mentality of some members of the political class;”
“vote-buying;” “lack of internal democracy within political parties;” and
“incendiary speech” by political actors.
Others are “election security,” which he said, was “beyond
the responsibilities and capabilities of INEC;” “impunity and lack of
consequences for electoral offenders,” which he said could be addressed through
the establishment of Electoral Offences Commission/Tribunal for easy disposal
of election cases; and lastly, the ever increasing number of “litigation and
conflicting Court Orders,” requiring the attention of the Commission.
Prof Yakubu lauded Realnews Publisher/Editor Ms Maureen
Chigbo and her team, for their excellent professional job.
In his goodwill message, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, UN Special
Representative and Head, UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, charged
Nigerian political actors and the media to bear in mind that “elections in Africa’s
most populated country and largest economy have implications for the entire
continent and beyond.”
He noted that while “accurate and dispassionate reporting of
electoral events will help to educate the electorate and contribute towards
informed choice from among competing candidates, biased reporting and
deliberate falsehoods (fake news), on the other hand, could “contribute to
distorting the choices of the voters and election-related violence, while “hate
speech leads ultimately to hateful acts.”
Renowned Nigerian journalist and chairman of the Petroleum
Trust Fund, Dr Haroun Adamu, who chaired the well-attended lecture themed:
Political Transitions and Africa's Economic Development; urged online
publications to leverage the benefits of social media platforms to positively
impact “the minds, hearts and ultimately the fingers of voters in achieving a
desired outcome.”
In her welcome address, Ms Chigbo described credible
election as a necessary step towards speedy socio-economic development with
visionary leaders and appropriate policies.
The lecture was followed by a question and answer session
and a Panel Discussion featuring Dr Charles Okeke, a professor of economics,
College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, US; Prof Adebayo Olukoshi , Director,
Africa and West Asia Regional Programme and Liaison Office to the African
Union; and Engr Simbi Wabote, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development
and Monitoring Board, who was represented.
Seven new members - Prof Yakubu, Dr Adamu, Dr. Okeke, Prof
Olukoshi, Engr Wabote, Mr Paul Ejime and Sir Elvis Emecheta – were later
inducted into the Realnews Hall of Fame.
Previous inductees include Dr Chambas, Dr Oby Ezekwesili,
Nigeria’s former Education Minister, Prof Charles Soludo, former Central Bank
Governor, and Prof. Maurice Iwu, former Chairman of Nigeria’s Electoral
Commission and Dr. Ngozi Anyaegbunam, President, Media World.
Ms Chigbo explained that the gesture “is our own modest way
of honouring Lecturers and Speakers at our Anniversary Lectures for their
contributions to knowledge and national development, and also for recognising
Realnews Ambassadors.
Nenye Dom/GEE
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Pix: Prof Yakubu receiving the investiture plaque and Realnews publications
