L
LequteMan
Guest
Nigeria- According to INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, recent elections conducted since he came on board are inconclusive because elections are getting better and votes are being made to count.
“There has been a revolution in our elections since 2015, particularly with the introduction of technology, but we haven’t come to grips with this reality. Elsewhere, it is normal to have this kind of (inconclusive) election. It is a requirement in democracy that votes must count, and people must ultimately determine who the winner is.”
He also said it was curious that INEC is being accused of dereliction of some sort because of the recent spate of inconclusive elections.
“In the discussions that I have listened to and what I have read so far, I have not heard anyone accuse the Commission of declaring elections inconclusive outside the provisions of the law – especially Sections 26 and 53 of the Electoral Act.
“That is the context that we should put the inconclusive elections. In 2011, the governorship election in Imo State was inconclusive because of votes outstanding in four local governments. In 2015, we had inconclusive elections again in Imo, Abia and Taraba states. The results were declared after supplementary elections were conducted. In-between 2011 and 2015, we had an inconclusive election in 2013 in Anambra State. So, this trend is backed up both by legal provisions and our experience.
The Nation
“There has been a revolution in our elections since 2015, particularly with the introduction of technology, but we haven’t come to grips with this reality. Elsewhere, it is normal to have this kind of (inconclusive) election. It is a requirement in democracy that votes must count, and people must ultimately determine who the winner is.”
He also said it was curious that INEC is being accused of dereliction of some sort because of the recent spate of inconclusive elections.
“In the discussions that I have listened to and what I have read so far, I have not heard anyone accuse the Commission of declaring elections inconclusive outside the provisions of the law – especially Sections 26 and 53 of the Electoral Act.
“That is the context that we should put the inconclusive elections. In 2011, the governorship election in Imo State was inconclusive because of votes outstanding in four local governments. In 2015, we had inconclusive elections again in Imo, Abia and Taraba states. The results were declared after supplementary elections were conducted. In-between 2011 and 2015, we had an inconclusive election in 2013 in Anambra State. So, this trend is backed up both by legal provisions and our experience.
The Nation
