Election management: INEC will continue to learn from international best practices -Yakubu

Tunde Opalana, Abuja

To perfect election management process in Nigeria, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, said the Commission will continue to learn from international best practices. He made the commitment on Monday while playing host to a delegation of the Commonwealth Observer Group led by former Tanzanian President, Dr. Jakaya Kikwete, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. Yakubu acknowledged the impact of the Commonwealth Election Observers and its useful recommendations which has helped Nigeria improve on her election processes. He disclosed that the Commonwealth in its report on the 2015 general election made 32 recommendations including the adoption of Simultaneous Accreditation and Voting System. The chairman said INEC had conducted 194 off season elections with simultaneously accreditation and voting system, which is now part of election guidelines issued by the commission. “I want to reassure the international community that we will always learn lessons from international best practices in ensuring that our elections meet not only national expectations but international best practices. “We always welcome your observations on how elections are being conducted. Your reports actually strengthened the commission in terms of our processes and procedures. “I am confidence that at the end of your observation this time around there will be new set of powerful recommendations similar to what you did in 2015,” the chairman said. He also reassure Nigerians that the election of February 16 and March 2 would be free, fair and credible. “We are committed to this processes. The only thing the commission derives joy in is ensuring that votes count and that the citizens will determine the leaders of the country at various levels,” he said. Leader of delegation, Kikwete said they are in Nigeria to hear from INEC on its preparations for election. The former Tanzanian President said the group would thereafter deploy its members to all parts of the country. “After the observation, the group will come up with its interim report after that we will present out comprehensive report,” he said.