By Eben Enasco
With the Ondo gubernatorial election just around the corner, all eyes are on Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, to deliver a free, fair, and credible election.
The INEC Chairman Professor Yakubu would be keen to forget this year’s Edo gubernatorial election in a hurry over the alleged collation center manipulated results that has become a threatening smog as ‘a year-round epidemic’ instead of a celebrated issue in the country.
The shift in maintaining Professor Yakubu’s numerous assurances announced during pre-elections, has so far failed to yield the desired results, living doubts over the conduct of any other election in the country.
Indeed, the electoral operations in Nigeria is now worse than it has ever been, with the Index exceeding minus zero trust for the first time ever in the country.
Each election year, Nigerians have been told to stay on track hoping for their votes to count but due to the smog hazard of the electoral malpractices, no one can count on the progress provided by Professor Yakubu and his seemingly rigging act.
Yakubu at a recent forum, vowed to use the Ondo State governorship election to correct the mistakes of previous elections, particularly in Edo State.
During the election at the collation centre, it was reported that massive rigging and Electoral fraud was witnessed despite an obvious attempt to create stakeholders apathy.
Yakubu’s tenure has been marred by controversy, with many elections conducted under his watch being deemed inconclusive.
The 2023 Presidential and Edo Off-cycle elections on September 21, 2024, have eroded public trust in INEC.
Critics argue that Yakubu’s assurances are nothing more than empty promises, and that his track record speaks for itself.
A clear indication of suspected INEC electoral fraud was revealed by TAP Initiative, a civil society group, who is demanding accountability from the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, over alleged forgery by some of its ad hoc staff during the Edo State governorship election.
The group recently petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission ICPC, to investigate and prosecute those involved.
TAP Initiative’s Executive Director, Martin Obono in the petition, expressed shame and disappointment upon discovering INEC’s alleged involvement in institutional electoral fraud, using taxpayers’ money to undermine the people’s will. Obono cited discrepancies in Certified True Copies CTC of election results, including missing signatures from polling unit agents and presiding officers.
Obono warned that if ICPC fails to act, TAP Initiative will seek intervention from the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
The group threatened to petition the European Union and other international agencies to cut funding to INEC, citing its alleged role in rigging elections.
INEC has measures in place to ensure the integrity of elections, including online training and certification programs for ad hoc staff, yet every election year is sold out.
The polluted electoral air in Edo State, which carries hazardous stinks many times over the standards set by many countries, can cause a host of respiratory diseases, as well as strokes, to electorates who have become bewildered over persistent fraudulent conduct of electoral umpire.
Youths are particularly at risk because of their learning curve where hopes gradually fade in all institutional carriers
Underdeveloped Electoral systems and propensity to understand more rapidly, is causing them to inhale more administrative pollutants relative to their time than the leaders.
Of course, combating Electoral smog was never going to be easy, no matter how keenly the INEC Chief wanted to see it prevented this year in the Edo State election when he was openly accused and embarrassed of being biased by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi in one of the stakeholders engagement forum in Benin City
True to the submissions of Dr. Tony Aziegbemi of Edo State PDP, the allegations of stark bias is oozing a glaring fraudulent conduct after an election seen by many including YIAGA Africa as the worst in the history of the country.
The commission aims to professionalize electoral duties and enhance election integrity.
However, TAP Initiative’s allegations highlight concerns about INEC’s effectiveness in preventing electoral malpractices.
It should be acknowledged that the catastrophe unfolding in each electoral year has been years in the making; it is the product of our authorities’ repeated failure to recognise the environmental impact of rapid urbanisation and industrialisation Challenge occasioned by the denials of the peoples desired leadership subverted by INEC and a few elements.
In a bit to redeem the already battered and exposed image, Professor Yakubu, the National INEC, scribe admitted to making a gravious mistake where he identified early polling unit openings and resulted in collation issues as significant challenges during a recent visit to Ondo State to inspect the level of Preparedness.
While emphasizing INEC’s readiness to improve, many remain skeptical over what is now seen as rhetorical rhythm where integrity is perverted.
A renowned academic, Yakubu holds a first-class degree in history from the University of Sokoto and a doctorate from the University of Oxford.
He has served as Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and Assistant Secretary of Finance and Administration at the 2014 National Conference.
To restore public trust, Yakubu must ensure a transparent and credible electoral process.
The electoral smog crisis in Edo State Gubernatorial election should now serve as a stark warning to administrators of INEC centres in Ondo upcoming gubernatorial election. If immediate steps are not taken to address this pollution, millions more may soon find themselves choking on electoral toxic air.
This includes addressing concerns around polling unit openings, result collation, and electoral malpractices.
Only time will tell if Professor Mahmood Yakubu can deliver on his promises or remain Nigeria’s biggest “Endemic Democratic Disease” , EDD.