- The INEC chairman, Mahmoud Yakubu, has responded to accusations from politicians, that the commission is unfit to conduct credible elections in 2019
- The accusations were made following allegations of underage voting during the Kano local government elections
- Yakubu however stated that he had received uncomplimentary remarks from both the APC and PDP, and that he cannot be intimidated
Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that he had gone beyond the stage of being intimidated, and won’t bow to any pressure.
Yakubu made the comments during a chat with The Interview on Wednesday, February 28.
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NAIJ.com gathers that he spoke in response to accusations from politicians that INEC could not be trusted to conduct free and fair elections in 2019 following concerns of voter registration.
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state had recently stated that Nigerians confidence in INEC had been damaged as a result of the reports of underage voting in Kano.
However, the INEC boss stated that he had been receiving uncomplimentary remarks from both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He stated: “I have passed the stage where someone can intimidate me to do what is wrong. I have passed that stage, where I can be intimidated, with due respect. And the real test is in what we have done (178 ‘mini’ elections) so far.
“The most interesting thing for me is that both parties accuse us equally. So, that means we are doing something right.”
On the issue of the alleged underage voting in Kano, Yakubu stated: “These are elections that are not the legal and constitutional responsibilities of INEC. There are legal entities that conduct local and government elections in this country.”
Yakubu stressed that he had not received any pressure to bend the rules from the presidency or any other quarters.
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday, February 28, announced dates for general elections in the country for the next 36 years, starting from 2019 to 2055.
The chairman of the commission, Prof Mamood Yakubu, made the announcement at a consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja.
He pointed out that in other democracies of the world periods of elections were generally known and were not topics for speculation.
Election-2019: (Don't) mark your calendar - on NAIJ.com TV:
Source: Naija.ng
