President Muhammadu Buhari has
called for punitive measures to be taken against perpetrators of
electoral malpractices noting that it was not enough to cancel polls and
order fresh ones.
President
Buhari says electoral offenders must be punished.
Buhari made the call on Monday, November 9, during the inauguration ceremony of the new helmsman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The inauguration had in attendance Vice President
Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Senate president, Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House
of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Secretary to the Government of the
Federation (SGF), Babachair Lawal amongst others.
The president noted that unless electoral
offenders were sanctioned, the system would not be made right. He also used the
medium to call for the overhauling of the justice administrative system.
“Another area of concern is the justice administration
of the electoral tribunals. It is long overdue that our justice system
addresses these shortcomings. It is not just enough for an election to be
cancelled and a new one ordered.
“It would be much better if all whose actions or
inactions led to the cancellation of such election to be investigated and if
culpable prosecuted whether they are individuals as candidates or party agents,
institutions such as political party, electoral body, or public officers as
electoral staff or security agents.
“Similarly, perpetrators of electoral violence and
thuggery should not be spared. Unless our system stops covering up all forms of
electoral malpractices we can hardly get it right. No system endures with
impunity,” Buhari said.
The president also reiterated that the new
administration stands for change and will see it through that the nation
changes for the better.
He said: “The APC government has promised
Nigerians change. In electioneering this change should be all embracing. It starts
from change of attitudes, change of work ethics, change in attitude to
corruption and corrupt practices, change of party political conduct-right from
primaries to the emergence of candidates and finally the conduct of elections.
“In the conduct of elections we promised to respect
the independence of our electoral body, INEC. We promised non-interference in
its activities and above all we promised to encourage them to conduct
transparently free and fair elections. I hereby pledge to keep that promise.
“Gentlemen, I hereby acknowledge and pledge to respect
the independence of the commission, and this government will not interfere with
its operations.”
Buhari said there is a need to make state electoral
commissions across the federation more responsible to conducting free, fair and
credible polls.
“Needless to add that the APC is not limited to the
control of Federal Government alone. There are many states that are
APC-controlled; I expect them to do no less in the way they handle their
various States’ Electoral Commissions. All of us, and this includes other
political parties have a responsibility to safe-guard the sanctity of
democratic values; and the foundation of such values are free association,
transparent electoral process and free and fair elections.
“I am aware of the Federal Government’s constitutional
constraints in its engagement with the states’ electoral bodies. But the
government has a social responsibility to protect the democratic rights of
all.”
“I am of the view that it is totally unacceptable to
hide under the cover of the technicality of law to deny the citizens’ rights.
Accordingly, the Federal Government is considering a different strategy of
engagement with state governments on how to make state electoral commissions
much freer than many are today.
“In almost all the states, the party of the sitting
government wins all the council elections – while there is nothing wrong with
that if it is the true wish of the people – but majority of Nigerians more
often than not think it is not, hence have little respect for the outcome of
our council elections. This is responsible for questioning the integrity of
such election winners throughout their tenure.”
The commander-in-chief also urged the INEC
appointees to resist all forms of prejudices that will mar the credibility of
elections in the country.
“For your part, you should not allow yourselves to be
unduly influenced or subject yourself to the control of outside forces.
You must respect the law and we will hold you bound by the oath which you have
just taken. The nation has reposed a lot of trust and confidence in
you. You cannot afford to fail,” he said.
The new INEC officials include Professor Mahmood
Yakubu (Chairman), National Commissioners: Mrs. Amina Zakari, Mr. Solomon
Adedeji Soyebi, Prof. Antonia Taiye Okoosi-Simbine, Dr. Muhammed Mustafa Lecky
and Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo.
In response to the president’s charge, the new INEC
chairman, said that he and members of the electoral team are not stooges to
anyone, stressing that they owe it a duty to their fatherland to serve in all
fairness.
As he pledged his commitment to the Electoral Act, he
assured the president on behalf of his colleagues, that they would discharge
their duties without fear or favour.
He said: “We pledge our commitment to
discharge our responsibility without fear or favour.”
President Buhari has promised to rid the country of
corrupt officials. In fulfilling that promise he has continued to make changes
in key positions within his administration.
In his latest change, the president has removed Ibrahim Lamorde as the chairman of the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Source: naij.com
Post a Comment