2019: Why elections were declared inconclusive – Yakubu

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, on Monday blamed declaration of elections as inconclusive on Insecurity.

According to him, most of the elections held in 2019 were declared inconclusive because of insecurity.

Yakubu, made the claim during the meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security held in Abuja in continuation of the review of the 2019 General Elections.

He said: “From our assessment, insecurity as a result of violent disruption of processes was the major reason why a number of elections had to be declared inconclusive. There is therefore an organic link between security and the conduct of peaceful elections.

“At the same time, we must cast our nets wide. I am happy to note that the Nigeria Police Force made several arrests of alleged electoral offenders during the general election. We have since requested the police to avail us of the case files so that we can initiate their immediate prosecution.”

The INEC chairman also called for the establishment of special bodies to deal with electoral offences.

He said: “While we will continue to do our best working with security agencies in this regard, I wish to renew the call for the establishment of electoral offences tribunal. We shall work with the National Assembly to ensure the passage of a private member’s bill sponsored in the Senate by a former chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Abubakar Kyari; and in the House of Representatives by Francis Charles Uduyok.

“Their effort was reinforced by an executive bill submitted to the National Assembly arising from the report of the Ken Nnamani Committee on Electoral Reforms. The truth is that democracy and credible elections will be deepened where electoral offenders are swiftly prosecuted.

“For instance, in the recent general election in South Africa held in May, 2019, some electoral offenders were arrested and swiftly charged to court even before the election was concluded.”

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