The electoral
commission chairman who disclosed this at a virtual workshop organised by the
Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in partnership with the
Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) on Tuesday June 9, added that they
are adopting a different approach to ensure that the election does not turn out
bloody just like what was witnessed in Kogi state.
Yakubu stated that
violent acts puts the credibility of an election in doubt. He said;
“While elections are
disrupted, we should look far beyond the electoral commission. I think you put
your fingers on the problem, on the political class and the security
challenges. And that is why we have been engaging with them.
“Yesterday, I had a
meeting with the national security adviser, we are meeting with all the security
agencies. But what pro-active measure is the commission going to take to ensure
that if there is a replay of what happened in Bayelsa and Kogi, we will protect
the integrity of the process.
“Where the election
is disrupted and the commission cannot vouch for the integrity of the process,
we will not go ahead to make any declaration. And this we have told the
political parties pointblank; you either behave for the elections to be
concluded in a free and fair manner or we do what the law says.
“If we can’t vouch
for the credibility of the process, there is no point concluding it and making
declaration. That we have committed to. The commission will not endorse fraud
and what is clearly outside the minimum standard we have set for the conduct of
credible elections anywhere.”
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