2019: I won’t be intimidated – INEC Chairman

Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), says he has passed the stage where he
can be intimidated.

In a chat with The Interview, Yakubu vowed not to bow to
pressure.

He said this in light of concerns about voter registration and
accusations by politicians that INEC could not be trusted to
conduct free and fair elections.

Recently, Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, said the report
of under-age voting in Kano had damaged confidence in INEC.

But 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,” he said.

“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 also said he had never faced any pressure from the
presidency, or any other quarters, to bend the rules.

Yakubu said poorly conducted elections are a recipe for
disaster, 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,” he said.

On the Kano underage voting, the INEC chairman said, “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?”

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

The interview also covered the delayed primaries in the ruling
All Progressives Congress, the role of security services, including
the use of the army in past elections, and whether or not Yakubu
will vote in 2019.

Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), says he has passed the stage where he
can be intimidated.

In a chat with The Interview, Yakubu vowed not to bow to
pressure.

He said this in light of concerns about voter registration and
accusations by politicians that INEC could not be trusted to
conduct free and fair elections.

Recently, Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, said the report
of under-age voting in Kano had damaged confidence in INEC.

But 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,” he said.

“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 also said he had never faced any pressure from the
presidency, or any other quarters, to bend the rules.

Yakubu said poorly conducted elections are a recipe for
disaster, 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,” he said.

On the Kano underage voting, the INEC chairman said, “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?”

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

The interview also covered the delayed primaries in the ruling
All Progressives Congress, the role of security services, including
the use of the army in past elections, and whether or not Yakubu
will vote in 2019.