Use your second term to create culture of justice, integrity, ADC’s Nwosu tells INEC boss

 

BY LINUS CHIBUIKE

THE National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Ralphs Nwosu, has tasked the newly reappointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, to use the rare opportunity of his second term in office to create a culture of justice and integrity in the Commission.

Nwosu said to be in charge of the election management agency of any nation for 10 years was no mean task, noting that the INEC boss was now in a vantage position to create a legacy for Nigeria’s democracy.

He said this while reacting to Yakubu’s reappointment as INEC Chairman, first in the history of Nigeria’s democracy.

He also advised the Commission to pull itself out of politics and focus on meeting the interests of its multiple stakeholders and Nigerians as a whole.

“For a democracy of just 22 years, Prof. Mohmood has the democratic destiny of the nation on his shoulders. He is now in a vantage position to create the legacies of Nigeria’s democracy,” he said.

According to him, INEC as at today, is a typical Nigerian government agency with what he described as “wobbly foots of clay and intrigues.”

Nwosu, who is also the Acting President of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, said, “The independent in the name is mere cosmetics and phantom decoration. His first job is to try to build an independent agency and create a culture that epitomizes democracy, diversity, justice and integrity.

“I know him as a strategy scholar, therefore, I expect a clear strategic compass and dashboard that guide the commission’s work for credibility. The commission should pull itself out of politics and focus on meeting the interests of its multiple stakeholders and entire Nigerian people.”

He added, “As the first person to spend 10 years at the helm of affairs in INEC, it would require him to take ownership of INEC’s lenses, standards, goals, and values and recreate them to stand all form of integrity tests.

“Although appointed and reappointed by Mr Presidents, he may be required to go against this method of appointment for the top echelon of our election management body; it doesn’t promote our democracy when clearly partisan commissioners and Chairmen are appointed by a partisan President to run elections.

“The commission should better be run by consummate professionals selected by multiple stakeholders using best international practices.”

“I hope he realizes that with this appointment, he has a once in a lifetime opportunity to make the country a flagship nation with model democratic protocols,” the ADC National Chairman said.