INEC will remain apolitical – INEC Chairman, Mahmud Yakubu
Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmud Yakubu has assured Nigerians that the election umpire will remain apolitical in the conduct of polls in the country.
He gave the assurance Wednesday in Nasarawa during an on the spot assessment of state of preparedness for the Saturday’s Nasarawa State Assembly bye – election.
Yakubu who was accompanied by management team of the Commission and some members of the INEC Press Corps expressed satisfaction that all is now set for the August 8 Nasarawa Central state constituency bye-election.
The chairman said he was in Nasarawa for three reasons; to inspect the readiness of the office in Nasarawa, to meet with traditional rulers who are custodians of the people and to meet and interact with stakeholders including candidates of parties that will participate in Saturday poll.
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The nation’s chief electoral officer was also at the palace of the Emir of Nasarawa to seek for royal blessing towards the conduct of the forthcoming bye-election and assured the royal father that the Commission remains apolitical and will continue to abide by the wish of the people through the ballot box
On his part, the Emir of Nasarawa, Ibrahim Jibrin, said the traditional council is in support of INEC’s efforts in building strong and virile democracy, acknowledging the fact that elections are never easy.
The royal father claimed that Nasarawa local government area with over five thousand seven hundred square kilometres is bigger in size than some states in the country and has two state constituencies. He therefore called for creation of more constituencies.
The INEC chairman also met with the stakeholders whom he assured of INEC’s commitment towards a free and fair conduct of election all the time.
The Nasarawa Central state constituency bye-election is coming as a result of the death of Sulaiman Adamu in April 2020.
