Former INEC Chairman Gives Report Card

  

Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),  has given account of the commission under his leadership, and said he achieved a lot despite challenges.

Yakubu  stepped down on Tuesday after 10 years in the saddle.

He   said that he  introduced many innovations, including adoption of technologies to improve the nation's electoral process.

 Speaking  yesterday  at Abuja during his last meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), he said the commission consolidated the biometric register of voters and replaced many of its manual processes with digital platforms and applications. 

He reeled out his achievements to be the nomination of candidates, submission of polling and collation agents by political parties, accreditation of national and international observers and the media for elections, voter accreditation and result management. 

"In addition, with the support of development partners, we have introduced various technologies to improve diverse aspects of election management such as easy location of election facilities, management of collation and returning officers, virtual training of electoral staff, management of political parties finances and audits, as well as the overall monitoring of elections using our Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC). 

"Indeed, we have made tremendous progress, but a lot more needs to be done," he stated. 

Prof. Yakubu added that because he knew the enormity of the challenges ahead, and having been privileged to serve the commission for 10 years, he took "a decision and conveyed same as provided by Section 306 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as mended)."

The former INEC Chairman who handed over to the most senior National Commissioner, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, in an acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive Chairman of the Commission, explained that it was done after consultations. 

He expressed the hope that it would afford the appointing authorities adequate time to appoint a new Chairman. 

"It will also enable the new Chairman to settle down quickly to the task of conducting elections and electoral activities in Africa’s most demographically and logistically complex elections," he said 

Prof. Yakubu expressed appreciation to members of the commission and Resident Electoral Commissioners for the excellent working relations. 

"Since 2015, I have worked with 24 National Commissioners and 67 RECs. So also to the staff of the commission. 

"Those involved in elections or vastly knowledgeable about election management understand what the conduct of elections entails. 

"I will forever cherish the support of successive Secretaries and staff of the Commission nationwide. Together, we innovated and managed the commission’s enormous responsibilities, sometimes on the verge of breaking down," Prof. Yakubu stated.

He also appreciated the development partners for their support and the security agencies for securing the environment for the conduct of elections.

Prof. Yakubu  also  presented two books  with the titles Election Management in Nigeria, 2015-2025, a compendium of all the activities carried out in the last ten  years under his watch, and Innovations in Electoral Technology 2015 – 2025, which he said dwells on the new technologies introduced by the commission in the last one decade.