We have learnt our lessons from Kogi election – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Tuesday said it has learnt its lessons from the Kogi State election debacle, promising to advocate for a review of electoral laws to accommodate the issues thrown up by the controversial election.

“We have learnt our lessons but we could not have changed the rules mid-way. A referee cannot just come up halfway into the game and say what used to be offside is no longer offside. The laws can only be reviewed after the match has ended,” he said.

This was stated on Tuesday by INEC’s Director in charge of Voter Education, Publicity, Civil Society and Gender Liaison, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, when he appeared on a television programme, adding that its hands were tied by relevant laws in the conduct of the governorship election in Kogi State.

According to the electoral body, it could not have declared any other person other than Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress, APC as the duly elected governor of the state, saying it was legally bound to do so and could not change the rules in the middle of the game.

According to him, the guidelines were clear on situations that could warrant the declaration of an election as “inconclusive”, insisting that the fact that only about 13, 227 voters out of 49, 000 registered voters participated in the supplementary election, “INEC had a constitutional duty to conduct that election within certain parameters or framework.

“If INEC was satisfied that even one vote could make a difference, then we had no option than to conduct the election. It was not the making of INEC. Definitely, we would have loved to complete everything on November 21.”

On the purported withdrawal of the deputy governor elect, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, the INEC spokesman contended that at no time did Faleke withdraw from the race, saying it would have amounted to a legal absurdity for the APC to have made Faleke its governorship candidate and then making him nominate a new running-mate. Such a development, he said, would have thrown up fresh legal challenges.

“We got a letter from Faleke saying he is the governor-elect. At no time did he withdraw. APC never withdrew his name either. In any case, we never relate with individuals. We only deal with candidates through their parties.

“Even so, his withdrawal would have been correct if it was within the time for withdrawal, which is 45 days before the election, and if his party had forwarded his withdrawal letter to the commission. When he was nominated as deputy governorship candidate, it was his party that forwarded his resume, affidavit and other details to INEC and not Faleke himself,” he explained.

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