Why I Still Repose My Confidence In INEC – Adesina

Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, has expressed his trust and confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) despite the challenges experienced in the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

He commended the electoral body for admitting that the just-concluded elections were flawed and not claiming that the exercise was the best thing that ever happened to the country.

Naija News reports that the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity stated this in an article released via his Facebook page on Thursday night.

Adesina said he still has belief in INEC because the electoral umpire owned up to its lapses, and is willing to correct the mistakes in the forthcoming governorship and state assembly elections and future polls.

He wrote: “Chatham House has said it. The American Ambassador in Nigeria has said it. And INEC itself has admitted that the election had challenges, which it would strive to correct in the Governorship and State Assembly elections now postponed to March 18.

“And that is why I still repose confidence in the INEC as led by its Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu. It has not tried to hide behind one finger, proclaiming loudly that the election was the best thing that ever happened to us in Nigeria.

“By the way, do you have perfect elections even in the Western world? America, more than once, has had highly disputed presidential polls. So also some other major democracies of the world. And it is quite manly to own up to it, as INEC has done, and resolve to do better.

“The election came with challenges, some of them unforeseen. Does it then tantamount to a perfect exercise? By no means. Are there perfect elections anywhere in the world? A rarity. But is INEC trying to cover its shortcomings in areas where they didn’t measure up to pledges and promises earlier made? Not at all.

“Frank. Honest. And that gives cause to still maintain confidence in the electoral umpire. An organization that has owned up to lapses, and is willing to correct them in the immediate and long term. This is the pledge it has made:

“As we approach the Governorship and State Assembly elections, we must work harder to overcome the challenges experienced in the last election. Nothing else will be acceptable to Nigerians. All staff found to be negligent, whether they are regular or ad hoc officials, including Collation and Returning Officers, must not be involved in forthcoming elections. RECs must also immediately initiate disciplinary action where prima facie evidence of wrongdoing has been established.”

Adesina also commended the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, for admitting that the just-concluded elections were marred with irregularities and other issues.

The presidential spokesman added that Yakubu recognized that nothing else but a free, fair, and credible election will be acceptable to Nigerians.

He added: “Nothing else will be acceptable to Nigerians, says Prof Yakubu. True. This is a man who recognizes the burden of history on his shoulders. Most of his predecessors barely ended their tenures with their image and reputation intact. This cool and calm academic must, therefore, pull the chestnut out of the fire. The shortcomings of February 25 must be corrected pronto, particularly the failure to upload results from the polling booths to the INEC portal real time. Promises had been made on that, Nigerians had held onto it, and it should be achieved.

“Yes. Proven infractions should be redressed, and the rights of parties and candidates who wish to seek further redress in courts must be respected. As we all know, the then Candidate Buhari approached the courts after disputed polls of 2003, 2007, and 2011. He didn’t get the reliefs he sought, but by 2015, he won through the ballots cast. Rather than resort to self-help, which may lead to the breakdown of law and order, and cause wanton loss of lives, it is good that the challengers of the February 25 polls have gone to court. Let them have their days.

“I can’t but share the optimism of INEC, and say a quiet prayer for it to acquit itself well. An irreducible legacy President Buhari wants to leave for Nigeria is free, fair, credible elections. He has made the pledge both home and abroad. And he has given all the support necessary to the electoral body. Nothing must detract from the President’s promise. Nothing. Again, I say, nothing.”