The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu has said that the allegation by former President Olusegun Obasanjo against the commission did not come as a surprise even as he said that the commission is not and can never be under pressure from any quarter to do what is wrong.
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who spoke today, Monday, at a meeting with the new acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, said that Nigerians can trust the commission to deliver credible elections.
“This is to be expected in an election year when people make all sorts of insinuations,” he said.
“I want to tell you that we as a commission have never been under any pressure to do what is wrong.
“We will never compromise our integrity to do what the law says that we shouldn’t and for the 2019 general elections, I want to assure and reassure Nigerians that votes and nothing but votes will count.
“With this level of cooperation from the security agencies, I want to assure you that Nigerians will have a pleasant voting experience in 2019.”
He said that the nation is looking forward to INEC and the police to conduct credible elections, adding that the media would be provided unimpeded access to the commission during the elections.
He called for a close working relationship between the commission and the police at all levels.
“The more we collaborate with the police, the easier the prosecution of election offenders. We are going to consult the security agencies for the deployment of personnel for the elections.
“We must work in partnership to give Nigerians a pleasant election in the upcoming elections, our responsibility is to serve the Nigerian people.”
He urged the police personnel to be on ground early enough to escort officials of the commission to polling units.
Earlier, Mohammed Adamu had said that the deputy inspector-general of police in charge of force criminal intelligence and investigation department (FCIID), had been directed to set up a special election investigation teams.
He said the teams would take into custody and undertake detailed investigation of all arrested electoral offenders across the country.
Mohammed Adamu said the teams shall liaise with INEC towards the prompt processing of the case files of the offenders for prosecution.
He said the police would respect and protect the rights of all citizens of the country regardless of their socio-economic status.
Obasanjo had questioned INEC’s integrity, expressing doubts about the commission’s ability to conduct free, fair and credible elections in 2019. He alleged that the commission is under pressure to manipulate the polls in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
