2019: Yakubu assures Nigerians of credible poll
Nigerians have been assured of a credible poll in next year’s general election. Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who gave the assurance Thursday, said INEC will conduct credible elections come 2019.
According to The Nation, Yakubu made the promise while speaking at the 6th Anniversary Lecture and Investiture into the Realnews Hall of Fame in Lagos.
He spoke on : “Political transitions and Africa’s economic development: Preparations for Nigeria’s 2019 general elections”.
According to Yakubu, the commission is not unaware that the conduct of 2019 elections is a tough task, but INEC is determined to leave no stone unturned to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
He said INEC was deeply committed to democratic elections that would contribute to political stability and consolidation of democracy, which would propel the nation to greater economic prosperity.
“It is true that political stability is a prerequisite for economic growth. It is also true that no economy flourishes in a situation of uncertainty.
Nations cannot develop, if they are unstable. We have seen nations and cities destroyed by unacceptable electoral outcomes.
“Democratic transition through periodic and credible elections is the best way to ensure certainty that will guarantee and sustain political stability.
“We will never ever fail the nation. Our commitment is that we will never give Nigerians excuses,” he said.
He however called on all stakeholders, governments, election administrators, security agencies, civil society groups, the media, political parties, candidates and their supporters – to play their roles.
Yakubu also said that, the commission has embarked on the consolidation of full biometric voter registration through the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) between April 27 and Aug. 31, among other preparations.
He added that at the end of the exercise, some 14.5 million Nigerians were added to the existing register of about 70 million, and the voters register for the 2019 elections had hit 84.2 million.
Yakubu, who called for support of all stakeholders for the collection of PVCs, said a new approach to the collection would begin early in December and continue until a week to the elections.
According to him, the PVCs of those who registered in 2017 and those who registered in the first and second quarters of 2018 have been printed and delivered to states.
