The newly appointed chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu yesterday said he would consolidate on the successes recorded by his predecessor, Professor Attahiru Jega. “I want to assure the distinguished Senators and Nigerians that under my watch no election will be won and lost at the INEC headquarters or at the Commission’s offices in states, “ Yakubu said when he appeared before the Senate for confirmation. Yakubu was later confirmed by the Senate alongside five Commissioners of the Commission. The commissioners confirmed are: Amina Bala Zakari (North-west), Dr. Antonia Taiye Okoosi-Simbine, (North-Central) Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo (North-East), Dr. Mohammed Mustapha Lecky (South-South) and Mr. Soyebi Adedeji Solomon (South-West). According to him, “the success of any election depends on the ability of the Commission to organise, arrange elections properly and in advance. But in this country, we have this culture of last minute and rush.” On electronic voting, he said: “It is desirable and inevitable. If you look at the trajectory from the last 10 years, the voters register comes in an electronic form. Initially, it was just a register, then photographs were added. And in the last election, both photographs and biometric were added.” On Diaspora voting, he said the process for Nigerians abroad to vote must be quicken. Speaking after the confirmation, Senate President Bukola Saraki said the new INEC boss and five Commissioners possessed the credibility to consolidate on the successes recorded in the electoral body. Meanwhile, Prof. Jega has recommended a thorough reform of the electoral process before the 2019 general elections to correct mistakes of the past. He was speaking yesterday in a lecture titled: “Electoral reforms in Nigeria: Challenges and prospects” at University of Abuja public lecture series. He also advocated the implementation of the recommendations of the Justice Muhammed Uwais Electoral Reforms Committee.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday interrogated former Governor of Akwa Ibom State Godswill Akpabio over allegation of financial crimes. Daily Trust gathered that Akpabio honoured the invitation by the anti-graft agency to explain allegations of looting of the state’s funds during his tenure. Sources told our correspondent that Senator Akpabio was being interrogated late yesterday evening at the Abuja head offices of the Commission. He was spotted at the EFFC office in company of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rickey Tarfa, at about 5:20pm. Akpabio’s arrest yesterday is fallout of the petition by an Abuja-based lawyer and activist, Leo Ekpenyong, who had on June 8 this year petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari and the EFCC, calling for Senator Akpabio’s probe and accusing him of looting. The petitioner had earlier on Wednesday adopted his petition and provided more details to the anti-graft agency on the allegations against the minority leader of People...
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