INEC Chair, Yakubu Mahmood Opens Up Says “No Electoral Process Is Perfect”

Sade AdewaleJune 25, 2019

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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Chairman, Yakubu Mahmood has stated that no electoral process is perfect.

Speaking at a review of the 2019 general elections with 387 EOs from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, the INEC Chairman who stated that no electoral process is perfect added that while friends would criticize them, enemies would come with condemnation.

He said, “Anything (criticism) that anybody is going to say about the conduct of (2019) elections in Nigeria is secondary to the kind of information we are going to hear from those who truly conducted elections at the level that matters; at the level of the Polling Units.

“Where we should be criticised, I consistently say that friends will criticise you, but your enemies will condemn you.

But criticism is the basis for making any system work. No democracy and no electoral process is perfect.

Every democracy is work in progress. So, feel free to make suggestions on all the issues relating to the whole process of conducting elections. You have the protection of the chairman that whatever you say will not be used against you.”

“So, feel free to make suggestions on all the issues relating to the whole process of conducting elections. You have the protection of the chairman that whatever you say will not be used against you.”

Yakubu further said that despite all the difficulties witnessed, the commission registered over 14 million new voters within 18 months, due to the diligence of the EOs at the local government levels.