INEC’s announcement that it will ensure free and fair governorship elections in the country has been dismissed by Atiku Abubakar
The PDP presidential candidate said the INEC chairman’s comment is a classic case of ‘medicine after death’
The former vice president stated that the electoral commission’s chairman ought to have stepped aside from his position after the presidential election
FCT, Abuja – The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for promising to deliver credible governorship elections on Saturday, March 11.
In a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners, Prof Yakubu promised to ensure the strict use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and vowed that elections will reflect the wishes of Nigerians.
In a statement on Sunday, March 5 sent to Legit.ng, Atiku’s special assistant on public communication, Phrank Shaibu, described Yakubu’s assurances as worthless and unconvincing.
Shaibu added that the INEC chairman only tried to save face after conducting the worst elections Nigeria had ever witnessed since independence.
His words:
“The INEC chairman is nothing but a hypocrite. After promising to upload the results from polling units in real time, he allowed himself to be used, or he employed himself in subverting the will of Nigerians.
“Seven days since the election ended, the full results have still not been uploaded on INEC’s result viewing portal.
“The election was so bad that it failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians, as restated by several foreign media outlets and observers as well as Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard of the US. Rather than apologise, the INEC chairman is trying to shift the blame.”
Presidential election: Financial Times say exercise was badly flawed
Meanwhile, the London-based newspaper Financial Times says Nigeria’s just-concluded presidential election is “badly flawed.”
The international publication made its stance known in its editorial published on Thursday, March 2.
It added that Tinubu’s tally of 8.8 million in a country of 220 million people gave him the weakest of mandates.
Presidential election: Advocacy group berates US govt’s stance on poll
In a related development, the Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy has criticised the United States government for congratulating Tinubu.
According to the group, the US government should have waited for the courts to decide before sending its congratulatory message to the president-elect.
In a statement signed by its spokesman, Ifeanyi Okechukwu, and sent to Legit.ng, the group said the US might be planning to use Tinubu as a stooge.
