We’re Not Under Buhari’s Dictatorship, INEC Chief Tells CSOs

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it is not under the control of President Muhammadu Buhari, neither is the commission compromising its independence.

This, INEC said, while responding to the call for the resignation of its chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, by civil society organisations (CSOs) and some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The CSOs had accused INEC of compromising its independence by working with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to print result sheets ahead of elections.

Advertisement

But according to the INEC director of publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, the commission does not take orders from President Buhari or “any other person or authority”.

“What we have always been doing is trying to assert our independence; trying to work in accordance with the laws. Sometimes this favours one set of people, sometimes it doesn’t,” he said.

“From our experience, when it doesn’t favour them, they make some forms of allegations to undermine the commission, its integrity, its independence and try to bring it down in the eyes of the public.

“Ironically, some of the same people are accusing us of compromising our independence and calling on the president to call us to order.

Advertisement

“We are not under the direction or supervision of the president or any other person or authority, so, why should the same set of people be calling on the president to call us to order?
“They are the ones asking the national assembly and everybody to call us to order. If you read the constitution very well, we are not under the control of any body or institution,” he said.

“We are trying to apply the laws and principles consistently,” he said.

“When you see people printing fake currency do you call on the central bank governor to resign?” he asked.

“When you see people printing fake WAEC result sheets, do you hear people calling on the registrar to resign or people working in WAEC to resign that they are involved?” he asked.

Leave a comment

Advertisement