In spite of the raging controversies over whether INEC used a central server or not for the last general election in Nigeria, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has declared that no election anywhere in the world could be described as perfect. He also stated that every democracy is “work in progress”.
Yakubu spoke during the opening of the post-2019 elections review meeting held in Abuja with no fewer than 380 Electoral Officers, EO, from 19 states across the country were in attendance.
He stressed the need for the participants at the meeting to express themselves freely, assuring them that whatever they might say would not be held against them.
He said what was important was finding ways to improve future electoral process in the country.
His words: “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.
“Criticisms on the elections would help to improve the country’s lectoral process. Please, feel free to advise the commission. Where we need to be criticised or criticise ourselves, please do so. I consistently say that friends will criticise you, but your enemies will condemn you. But criticism is the basis to make any system work.
“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.”
