3 weeks ago
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By Olufemi Aduwo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) occupies a pivotal presumption successful Nigeria’s democracy, entrusted with the solemn work of ensuring that the voices of citizens are accurately captured, counted, and respected.
Leadership of this instauration should not beryllium a specified procedural formality; it demands a uncommon operation of integrity, operational competence, and tested experience.
Academic accolades oregon innovative technology, portion valuable, cannot substitute for motivation probity and applicable expertise.
Since 1959, the electoral assemblage has been led by a succession of chairmen drawn from retired civilian servants, the Bench, and the ivory towers — each tasked with safeguarding impartiality and nationalist trust.
Ronald Edward Wraith, the archetypal Chairman and a British citizen, oversaw the 1959 national elections, laying the instauration for independence.
He was succeeded by Chief Kofo Abayomi and Eyo Esua, who navigated the complexities of the First Republic amid determination tensions.
During the Second Republic, Michael Ani and Justice Victor Ovie-Whiskey conducted elections nether subject oversight, balancing procedural integrity with governmental constraints.
Under the subject governments of Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha, academics became the preferred appointees. Figures specified arsenic Professors Eme Awa, Humphrey Nwosu, and Okon Uya, alongside Barrister Sumner Dagogo-Jack, were entrusted with the Commission’s enactment to lend credibility to the process — though neither Uya nor Dagogo-Jack conducted immoderate elections pursuing the annulment of the 1993 poll.
With the advent of the Fourth Republic, Justice Ephraim Akpata conducted the historical 1999 elections, restoring civilian rule. Dr Abel Guobadia introduced procedural reforms, portion Professor Maurice Iwu sought to modernise elections done technology, albeit amid controversy. Professor Attahiru Jega is wide regarded arsenic having acceptable a precocious modular for transparency, overseeing elections considered mostly credible contempt imperfections, peculiarly the tragic circumstances surrounding the decease of the Kano State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and his household during the 2015 wide election.
In contrast, the tenure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu illustrates the limits of world favoritism without effectual operational execution. While Mahmood introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV), the 2023 wide elections suffered delays, method failures, and a rushed statesmanlike effect announcement, eroding nationalist trust.
The statement is that scholarly credentials and technological tools necessitate principled enactment to relation effectively.
Integrity and impartiality should stay the hallmarks of effectual enactment successful the Commission.This is wherefore Mr Mike Igini, a two-term Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) successful Cross River, Edo, Akwa Ibom and electoral involution duties successful different States similar lmo, Anambra , Osun and River state. That helium was appointed by President Jonathan of PDP (2010) and Buhari of Apc (2017) arsenic the lone sole Re-appointed from the eleven states of some southbound south and southbound east, exemplifies these qualities.
His bipartisan endorsement demonstrates the assurance that leaders of some large governmental parties had successful his quality to present credible elections nether aggravated pressure, resisting each forms of inducement and governmental interference.
Notably, 2 professors who manipulated results successful Akwa Ibom were prosecuted and are serving situation terms, reflecting his committedness to accountability.
This grounds makes him a beardown campaigner for INEC Chairman.
Similarly, Professor Nnenna Oti, erstwhile Vice-Chancellor of FUTO, Owerri, demonstrated exemplary integrity by rejecting inducements during the 2023 Abia gubernatorial election. Nigeria does not deficiency men and wom...
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