Why we can’t guarantee credible polls alone ― INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that the commission alone could not guarantee credible, free and fair elections in the country.

The acting Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC) in Ekiti state, Dr Muslim Omoleke who stated this during a courtesy visit to the State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ekiti Council said all the stakeholders; INEC, police, political parties, politicians and voters must be ready to play by the rules and contribute their quotas to solidify the country’s electoral system.

Omoleke said that the request by interested Nigerians that there must be an improvement in the electoral system was not misplaced, adding that this could only be realised if stakeholders strictly adhere to the rules guiding the process.

According to him, “Conduct of successful and credible elections is not the sole responsibility of INEC. INEC is just a principal stakeholder and other participants. Don’t forget that other stakeholders too have a lot to do.

“If an election is being conducted under a crisis-free and secured atmosphere, it means the security agencies have done well. If the campaigns before elections have not been violent, it means the politicians and political parties have played their own part well.

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“Also, if an election is conducted without interference and the results are announced accurately and in line with the wishes of the people, it means INEC has done well. Even the reportage of events by the media goes a long way to make or mar the electioneering process.

The INEC boss, who came in company with heads of departments of the commission’s office in Ekiti, said the visit was to thank the NUJ for its support leading to the successful conduct of the 2019 elections.

“I want to say that Journalists in Ekiti showcased professionalism before and during the 2019 elections. The success of the last general elections cannot be ascribed to INEC alone. Here in Ekiti, we did not record any casualty, which showed that the election had been peacefully conducted and all stakeholders had done their best in the most patriotic way.

“We are here to show appreciation to journalists for accurate reports and display of patriotism as critical stakeholders in the electioneering process,” he said.

Responding, the NUJ Chairman, Ekiti Council, Comrade Rotimi Ojomoyela, assured that journalists would continue to partner INEC to rejig the country’s electioneering process in line with the developmental journalism now in place globally.

Ojomoyela advised the commission to strive hard to put Nigeria on the world map of countries that are recognised for the conduct of credible elections to rebuild the country’s image.