Politics

We are prepared for 2019 elections – INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu

Published

5 years ago

November 13, 2018

The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof . Mahmood Yakubu has said that the commission is poised to conduct free , fair , and credible general elections in 2019 .Yakubu gave the assurance when he delivered a keynote address at the 6 th Convocation Lecture of Oduduwa University at Ipetumodu , Ile Ife, on Tuesday .
Speaking on the topic , “ The Independent National Electoral Commission and The Challenges and Prospects of Leadership Recruitment for Good Governance in Nigeria ’’ Yakubu said INEC was prepared for the elections.

“ As we are approaching the general elections, the commission is more than prepared to conduct elections that will be acceptable to all and sundry and the international community .

“ In all fairness , the commission has drastically leapt up from where it was when democracy was resurrected in 1999 , ” he stated .

Yakubu identified a growing trend of vote -buying , do or die political mentality , absence of internal democracy in parties and poor management of intra – party contests .

According to him , other challenges faced by INEC are incendiary speech, insecurity, impunity and lack of consequences for electoral offenders .

He also revealed that because of the primary elections recently held by political parties , INEC had been dragged to court over 200 times .

( NAN )