INEC boss requires stronger electoral co-operation in West Africa

Outgoing Chairman of Nigeria’s Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, on Thursday bade farewell to his counterparts throughout West Africa, calling for renewed dedication to regional collaboration amongst election administration our bodies.

Yakubu spoke throughout the extraordinary normal meeting of the ECOWAS Community of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) held in Banjul, Gambia, marking his last participation within the discussion board as INEC chairman.

His look got here amid current speculations that he had been faraway from workplace by President Bola Tinubu — rumours that intensified on Wednesday when Labour Get together officers met with an performing chairman, Sam Olumekun, on the INEC headquarters in Abuja.

Nevertheless, Yakubu had earlier dismissed the claims by presiding over the Fee’s weekly administration assembly on Tuesday. His Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, clarified that Yakubu was in Gambia attending the ECONEC assembly, and Olumekun solely acted in his absence.

In his deal with, Yakubu reminded the meeting of the crucial position electoral commissions play in safeguarding democracy throughout the sub-region. He lamented the reversal of democratic beneficial properties in West Africa, noting that whereas all ECOWAS nations had been underneath democratic rule in 2017, 4 of them are actually being ruled by non-democratic regimes.

“Sadly, that’s not the case,” Yakubu stated. “However I stay hopeful that democracy will quickly return to these nations. We should proceed to work collectively to strengthen our establishments and defend electoral integrity.”

The INEC boss, who as soon as served as President of the ECONEC Steering Committee, additionally paid tribute to former members of the community, acknowledging their efforts in selling credible elections and democratic governance.

Yakubu’s tenure, which started in 2015 and was renewed in 2020, is predicted to conclude later this 12 months.