The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood
\nYakubu, on Monday said the commission was poised to build a functional
\nelectoral system ahead of 2019 general elections.<\/p>\n
Yakubu made the assertion at the opening of a two-day strategic workshop
\nto review the implementation of the commission\u2019s strategic plan for
\n2012-2016.<\/p>\n
The chairman said that the workshop was part of the commission\u2019s strategic
\nplan toward successful general elections in 2019 and beyond.<\/p>\n
He said, \u201cThe objective of this workshop is to retrospect and project in
\ntwo days, and come up with better ideas and solutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to re-strategise for the 2019 general elections and beyond to
\ncome up with practical solutions on how to strengthen the electoral
\nprocess.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis we will do based on the policies of fairness, transparency,
\ncredibility and impartiality.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stressed the need to reflect on the constitutional and legally-defined
\nresponsibilities of the commission, and as well analyse the legal and
\nprocedural framework for elections management in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
According to him, these include the standard principle, processes and
\nregulations for election management in the country.<\/p>\n
Reacting to the issue of misdemeanor on the part of some INEC officials,
\nhe said that such unprofessional conduct would not go unpunished when
\nbrought to the attention of the commission.<\/p>\n
He said that the commission had administrative processes already in place
\nto tackle unprofessional conduct by any official.<\/p>\n
The INEC chief said that over 102 cases of arrest made by the police
\nduring the Rivers re-run, Edo and Ondo gubernatorial elections were
\ncurrently in court.<\/p>\n
Yakubu said that 62 among those arrested had been prosecuted and sentenced.<\/p>\n
In his remarks, Mr. Shalva Kipshidze, the Country Director, International
\nFoundation for Electoral Systems, said, \u201cThe success of every institution
\nis characterised by the institutions\u2019 willingness to plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cStrategic planning is important to an organisation because it provides a
\nsense of direction and outlines measurable goals,\u201d Kipshidze said.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0commission\u2019s national commissioners, Residents Electoral Commissioners
\nand directors were attending the two days retreat in Lagos. (NAN)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Monday said the commission was poised to build a functional electoral system ahead of 2019 general elections. Yakubu made the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":53029,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-55500","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n