We Are Prepared For 2019 Elections Says INEC Chairman

The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has said that the commission is poised to conduct free, fair, and credible general elections in 2019.

Yakubu gave the assurance when he delivered a keynote address at the 6th Convocation Lecture of Oduduwa University at Ipetumodu, Ile Ife, on Tuesday.

Speaking on the topic, “The Independent National Electoral Commission and The Challenges and Prospects of Leadership Recruitment for Good Governance in Nigeria’’ Yakubu said INEC was prepared for the elections.

“As we are approaching the general elections, the commission is more than prepared to conduct elections that will be acceptable to all and sundry and the international community.

“In all fairness, the commission has drastically leapt up from where it was when democracy was resurrected in 1999,” he stated.

Yakubu identified a growing trend of vote-buying, do or die political mentality, absence of internal democracy in parties and poor management of intra-party contests.

According to him, other challenges faced by INEC are incendiary speech, insecurity, impunity and lack of consequences for electoral offenders.

He also revealed that because of the primary elections recently held by political parties, INEC had been dragged to court over 200 times.

(NAN)