Former South African President, Thabo Mbeki and ONEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu
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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has said the commission will look forward to the recommendations made by the Commonwealth delegation
after it observes the 2023 general election.
Yakubu who said this while receiving the Commonwealth Observer Group led by former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki at the INEC headquarters on Monday in Abuja, also said “We have a voter population of 93 million means that we have 16.7 million more voters than the other 14 countries in West Africa. So each time Nigeria goes to the polls is like the whole of West Africa. Such is the sheer size of elections in Nigeria.
While expressing his excitement over the visit of the group, the INEC boss said, “We have benefited from the previous election report, so many of the innovations introduced over time from your observation.
He added “We don’t take your observations lightly, your recommendations that require administrative action by the Commission. We just went ahead and implemented those recommendations, those requiring that legislation be amended particularly in subsidiaries of the Electoral Act.
“We engage with the National Assembly to provide necessary legislation and those that require an amendment to the grundnorm of the Constitution. We also asked the National Assembly
“So that subsidiary of the Electoral Act also came in handy by the regulations and guidelines, so the Constitution, Electoral Act, Regulations and Guidelines moved to be a blueprint for election, to govern the conduct of elections.’
He said “Once again I would like to appreciate you for the recommendations made in the previous elections, I will look forward to the recommendations you come up with after you observe this general election. In terms of review and full improvement of the electoral process.”
According to Yakubu, the commission is committed to conducting free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections. We released the timetable for the 2023 elections over a year ago and identified 14 activities. I’m glad to say that so far we have implemented 12 on schedule and not one of these has been postponed. Only two activities are outstanding.
“So the election in Nigeria is huge. We understand as I said the responsibility is on our shoulders so we also understand the benefit of credible elections according to the peace and good governance of our country. For the ripple positive effect on the sub-region. And I want to assure you that we will never let Nigerians down and will never let the international community down”, Yakubu said.
Earlier, former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, said “it’s important that the Commonwealth would come to be with you as you hold this important election, and to observe with the chairman to observe the elections. But of course, we come very hopeful and very confident that we will have successful elections.
“This election will be inclusive elections at the end of the day there should be no problem.
In a good manner that depends on yourself as a person and members of INEC and many of your team around the country.
“we’ll come here essentially to listen to understand as much as we can, your views in terms of the preparation for the elections and anything and everything else.
Concerning the elections that fall within the remit of INEC as you would understand as a Mr. Chairman, of course, that understanding on our part as observers are important because, in the end, we will make a statement about the elections.
“But even more important, make recommendations about whatever we take in terms of this election, therefore, a comprehensive and accurate picture as possible of the elections becomes important.”
