Barely a day after the Chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC, Prof. Itse Sagay lambasted the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu for being weak, lacking in initiative and being responsible for the problems that characterized the general elections, the INEC boss has responded by saying no election is perfect.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja at the opening of post-2019 General Elections review meeting 380 Electoral Officers (EOs) from 19 states across the country, Yakubu said no electoral process is perfect as every democracy is work-in-progress. He called on the EOs to offer constructive criticism about the poll and proffer practical solutions that would improve the process in future elections.
“Criticisms on the elections would help to improve the country’s electoral process. Please, feel free to advise the commission. Where we need to be criticized or criticize ourselves, please do so. I consistently say that friends will criticize you, but your enemies will condemn you. But criticism is the basis to make any system work.
“No democracy, no electoral process is perfect. Every democracy is work-in-progress. So, feel free to suggest, advice on all issues relating to the conduct of elections, on the whole gamut. And, you have the protection of the chairman that whatever you say will not be held against you.
“Anything that anybody can say about the conduct of elections in Nigeria is secondary to the kind of information we are going to hear from those who truly conduct elections at levels that matter -the polling units.”
