The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has exonerated the Commission from incidents of failed elections in the country.
He blamed the bane of certificate forgers, political thugs, and directives from cabals, for derailing elections in Nigeria.
He stated in Abuja, on Tuesday, that political parties were the major cause of such situations, because they present criminals and certificate forgers, as candidates to stand for elections.
He however, stated that the Commission has been learning from past mistakes, and is not going to disappoint Nigerians in the conduct of the 2019 general elections.
Yakubu, also vowed that INEC under his leadership, was never going to take instructions from anybody.
The INEC boss stated this at a Stakeholders Validation Conference on the 2017-2021 INEC Strategic Plan, held in Abuja.
Recall, that many Analysts had claimed that elections under Yakubu, had been marred with inconclusive polls, rise in electoral irregularities, including open buying of ballot papers from people queuing to vote at polling boots.
However, Yakubu making an assessment of INEC under his leadership, blamed political parties for some of the ugly realities the Commission has continued to contend with.
He blamed politicians for presenting criminals and certificate forgers as candidates.
He then explained that while over 40 electoral offenders have been prosecuted, the Commission has 100 outstanding case files with it for consideration.
He further said the 23 INEC staff indicted during the rerun Legislative election in Rivers State, had been placed on suspension, adding that, similar disciplinary measures might be taken against 202 staff being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over the N29 billion poll bribery, recorded during 2015 general elections.
“We will never take instruction from anybody. We will take our own decision and stand by the consequences of the decisions we take. We have been learning lessons from the past elections, and we will continue to do what we have been doing courageously, while we learn from the past.
“We will continue to approach the conduct of election with honour and credibility. We will never, never let the country down,” he said.
