The Nigerian Forum for Democracy, NIFD, has commended the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for the peaceful conduct of the 2023 general elections in the country.
The group made the commendation in a statement it released to media houses in Abuja on Tuesday, which was signed by its National Coordinator, Bala Garba James, National Secretary, Mr James Adebayo Olu and the Public Relations Officer, Chief Edem Moses.
It noted however, that the peaceful conduct of the elections was not without enormous challenges, faced by the Commission, despite the amended Electoral Act, 2022, which was meant to improve on the electoral process.
The statement asserted that the Forum was aware of how some politicians they described as anti-democratic elements tried to arm twist the process and make nonese of the gains intended to achieve through the Electoral Act.
The statement read: “Of note is the development in Adamawa State governorship election, which was marred with controversies, but which the electoral umpire insisted on doing the right thing no matter whose ox is gored.
The group maintained that INEC’s swift response to the illegal declaration of Adamawa governorship election results was a proof that the INEC boss had no skeleton in his cupboard.
“That the INEC swiftly reacted and declared it a nullity, the announcement of Senator Aishatu Binani winner after the rerun election on Saturday April 15, 2023 in Adamawa State is a testament of a responsible electoral umpire, which Prof. Mahmood Yakubu deserves commendation.”
The Forum recalled that the INEC National Chairman read a riot act in his pre-election briefing of all the Resident Commissioners after they went through orientation and handed with guidelines of how elections should be conducted across the States. This shows the frantic effort of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s conduct of free and fair election, irrespective of pitfalls as a result of some unforeseen circumstances.
The group stressed that INEC’s fair disposition led to emergence of a sizeable number of opposition lawmakers, as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has 35 seats, Labour Party, LP 8, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, 2, the Social Democratic Party, SDP, 2, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and the Young Progressives Congress, YPP have one Senator-elect each, awaiting inauguration in June.
“The opposition political parties also did well in the lower legislative chamber as well as State Houses of assembly across States.
“With the general election concluded with runoffs on Saturday, the forum expressed optimism that the proposed ‘Electoral Offences Commission’ would complement INEC’s effort, if passed into law”, hence, they were calling on the Nigerian parliament to pass the bill into law in the interest of free and fair election in future,” the statement said.
