The Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mrs Amina Zakari, has declared that the Commission is not satisfied with the April 11, 2015 House of Assembly election in Ilaje State Constituencies 1 and 2 of Ondo State, admitting that the election lacked credibility, in spite of the fact that the winners of the election were declared by the commission.
The Chairman spoke with journalists on Wednesday at the opening of the Resident Electoral Commissioner’s Official Quarters in the state in Alagbaka, Akure, the state Capital.
Zakari, who was represented by the former National Electoral Commissioner in charge of Ogun, Oyo and Ekiti states, Professor Lai Olurode, said since the matter was already in the court, the commission was ready to abide by whatever the outcome of the court was, on the matter.
She said, “I was part of that decision, I think the decision was taken in the context of certain developments that we are aware of. We are helpless, once a return has been made the commission cannot do otherwise, it is only a court of law that can reverse it.
“We were not satisfied with the conduct of that election, I think the matter is in the court and I don’t want to sound prejudicial but I can tell you, there was an election that is similar to that of Ondo in Kano and the commission took a stand, a return was made and but the commission took a stand that if the loser went to court, the commission will support him, and we issued a statement that that election was not credible, and the commission will be willing to do the same for Ondo election.
“The days when the election has to be defended by INEC has gone. We don’t need to be defending any action that had been done by the staff of commission at all costs. If the election lacks credibility, I think it will be difficult for any commission put in place by the present government not to toe the line of Jega in terms of not being able to defend what is defensible.
On the governorship election that will be coming up next year, the INEC boss warned the staff of the commission against having unnecessary romance with politicians in the state, imploring them to be transparent and fair when the election activities begin.
On the newly inaugurated official building for the REC, Zakari said the building was imperative as it would not give room for unnecessary influence on elections, by the landlords of rented apartments the REC stays, who may be politicians, saying “ this would enable the REC to concentrate fully on the conduct of elections.”
He disclosed that such official residences had been built for INEC Commissioners in the 19 states of the federation, assuring that the remaining 17 would soon be built in the states that had yet to have.
(Punch)
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