The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC),
Mahmoud Yakubu, said that the commission was not under pressure to
do what was wrong.
A former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, had on Sunday, expressed
doubt about INEC’s integrity to conduct free, fair and credible
elections.
Mr Obasanjo had also attacked President Muhammadu Buhari,
accusing him of plotting to rig the general elections.
Mr Buhari is seeking re-election on the platform of his party,
the ruling APC.
In an open letter titled “Point for Concern and Action” which he
distributed to journalists at a press conference held at his house
at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Mr
Obasanjo also alleged that the president was acting like a former
military dictator, Sani Abacha.
“Buhari has succeeded in deceiving us the first time and we will
be fools to allow ourselves to be deceived the second time,” Mr
Obasanjo wrote inter alia.
Mr Yakubu, in obvious reference to the concerns, made the
clarification at a meeting with the Acting Inspector-General of
Police, Mohammed Adamu, and other senior police officers on Monday
in Abuja.
“This is to be expected in an election year when people make all
sorts of insinuations.
“I want to tell you that we as a commission have never been
under any pressure to do what is wrong.
“We will never compromise our integrity to do what the law says
that we shouldn’t and for the 2019 general elections, I want to
assure and reassure Nigerians that votes and nothing but votes will
count.
“With this level of cooperation from the security agencies, I
want to assure you that Nigerians will have a pleasant voting
experience in 2019,” he said.
He said that the nation was looking forward to INEC and the
Nigeria Police Force to conduct credible elections.
Mr Yakubu said that the media would be provided unimpeded access
to the commission during the elections.
He called for a close working relationship between the
commission and the police at all levels.
“The more we collaborate with the police, the easier the
prosecution of election offenders.
“We are going to consult the security agencies for the
deployment of personnel for the elections.
“We must work in partnership to give Nigerians a pleasant
election in the upcoming elections, our responsibility is to serve
the Nigerian people,” he said.
Earlier, the Acting IGP said that the Deputy Inspector-General
of Police in charge of Force Criminal Intelligence and
Investigation Department (FCIID), has been directed to set up
special investigation teams.
He said that the teams would take into custody and undertake
detailed investigation of all arrested electoral offenders across
the country.
Mr Adamu said the teams shall liaise with INEC towards the
prompt processing of the case files of the offenders for
prosecution.
He said that the police would respect and protect the rights of
all citizens of the country regardless of their socio-economic
status.
The presidential and National Assembly elections come up on
February 16, while the governorship and state Houses of Assembly
elections will hold on March 2.
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