Yakubu: Living up to the billing of a good umpire

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Mahmud Yakubu has shown courage in the discharge of his duty and even in matters concerning the ruling party, he has shown uncommon courage, writes Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU.

He is not a friend of politicians. Bold and courageous, he appears determined to make a difference. The obstacles on the way are formidable. Uneasy lies the head of the umpire. But, history will be kind to Mahmud Yakubu, Professor of Political Science and Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), if he sustains the tempo of performance to the end.

Eyes are on his commission as Nigerians vote for the presidential candidate of their choice on Saturday. Will the past mistakes be corrected? Will card readers work? Will INEC staff report for duty promptly? Will the electoral agency conduct a credible poll?

So far, Yakubu has been discharging his duties without fear or favour. His goal is the integrity of the electoral process; the sanctity of the ballot box. The chief electoral officer is guided by the constitution. His destination is the international best practice. When it is required, he is sensitive to public mood. Gone were the days when the electoral commission was operating from the armpit of a power-loaded President. He is not conducting elections in an atmospehere of do-or-die, reminiscent of Obasanjo era. No favouritism. No preferential treatment. No higher or lower bidder. INEC regulation is a leveller. Stiff resistance to undue influence by the ruling and opposition parties have marked Yakubu out as an unbiased referee. When he issues commands, parties can only ignore the guidelines to their peril.

The greatest mark of INEC under the leadership of Yakubu is its respect for the rule of law. The electoral body is never at a cross road. At critical moments, the commission escapes inter-party cross-fires by taking solace in legal compass. Through its consistent obedience to court orders, INEC has demonstrated the quality of a democratic institution worthy of pride and emulation.

Two incidents have attested to Yakubu’s firmness as the boss. Due to internal squabbles, the All Progressives Congress (APC) mismanaged its governorship primary in Zamfara State. The troubled chapter failed to submit the name of its governorship bearer and running mate before the deadline. The two ‘factions’ led by Governor Abdulazeez Yari and Senator Kabiru Marafa were working at cross purpose. They also underrated INEC. But, following the expiration of the deadline for submission of candidates’ list, INEC wielded the big stick. Yakubu told Nigerians that the chapter has forfeited the chance to participate in the governorship poll. In its view, the Zamfara APC did not hold primary for the selection of a flag bearer.

Reflecting on the verdict at the weekend, the national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, said although the agency was unfair to APC, the party has decided to abode by its decision.

The Rivers State chapter of the APC also failed to learn from the Zamfara mistake. The two camps, led by Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi and Senator Magnus Abe, failed to put their house in order. The genesis of the imbroglio was the party’s rancorous parallel congresses for the election of party officers. Two parallel leadership emerged in the state. During the parallel primaries, two candidates – Abe and Tonye Cole – also emerged. Both headed for the court. Following the chapter’s inability to meet the deadline, INEC applied the hammer, denying the two factional candidates due recognition. Yakubu explained that, following the breach of the guidelines on deadline, the chapter will not field candidate for the governorship election.

However, the chairman clarified that, since the two factional contenders for the ticket have gone to the court, he would wait for the outcome. At the weekend, INEC was vindicated by the position it had taken. The Supreme Court verdict implied that Rivers APC conducted its primaries in error, having violated the previous order of the lower court barring it from conducting the exercise.

The lessons are twofold. Since the consequence of violation of internal democracy by parties is known, their leadership have to take precautions. Also, INEC’s firm and principled position on primaries may restore discipline and prevent reoccurrence in the future.

A ‘no-nonsense’ chairman, Yakubu has also tried to maintain disciplined in INEC. He told reporters in Lagos that the bad eggs who had dented the name of the commission would be sent packing. To demonstrate its commitment to rid the commission of bad elements. Some unscrupulous INEC workers were recently tried and convicted for aiding and abetting rigging. This is a signal that an agency that can surrender its staff for trial will not spare any politician or Nigerian who perpetuate electoral fraud.

At a recent conference in Abuja, Yakubu was inundated with complaints about vote buying that had characterised recent elections. The factors that encourage the menace are impunity and poverty. Acknowledging the complaints, he said some politicians are fond of inducing voters with money tucked in slices of bread on election days, urging the country to break the chain of voters’ inducement through legislation. He promised to investigate the allegations and promised that the evil should be curtailed. Sources close to the INEC boss said that security agencies, at the instance of INEC, will be more vigilant during the electioneering to fish out those who may be involved in voting commercialisation.

Decrying vote buying, the INEC chairman said it denies the people of credible representation and exposes the country to ridicule before the international community. “Vote buying is not acceptable. It must never be allowed to define our elections. It is illegal and morally wrong,” he added.

Yakubu has been at the forefront of the struggle for the passage of the ‘Electoral Offences Tribunal Bill’ into law, as recommended by the electoral reforms committee headed by Justice Mohamed Uwais, Lemu and Senator Ken Nnamani. His argument is that the trial of electoral offenders in regular courts may take time as the courts are also busy with other cases.

Since he assumed the leadership of the body in 2015, INEC has been up and doing. Governorship elections have been conducted in six states-Kogi, Edo, Bayelsa, Anambra, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun, but with minimal controversies unlike before, although observers chided the commission for the orgy of inconclusive elections. Two weeks ago, the results of the Ekiti governorship polls, which were disputed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the tribunal, were upheld by the temple of justice. Other parliamentary by-elections in Bauchi, Katsina and Rivers were largely free and fair.

INEC has embarked on an aggressive voters’ registration since Yakubu came on board. Between 2015 and 2017, no fewer than 3,63o,529 voters were registered. Out of 175 elections-79 court-ordered rerun, 73 end of tenure polls and 23 by-elections-conducted under his watch, only two were overturned by the tribunal. The commission has demonstrated capacitry to fine-tune its operations, sustained stakeholders’ engagement s and responded to field challenges in its efforts to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.

As envisaged by the Electoral Law, the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) has not been compromised. The issuance of the Permanent Voters’ Cards has also been accorded priority, although many registered voters have refused to collect the cards. Analysts believe that this may signal voter apathy on poll day. Now, to enable more Nigerians to get the cards, INEC has postponed collection till today.

The malfunctioning of the card readers nearly marred the 2015 polls and subsequent ones in some states. But, during the Anambra State governorship election, the incidence reduced drastically. The machines were deployed to 5,339 polling units across 21 local governments.  There were only complaints in 106 polling units, representing 1.8 per cent. The technical personnel successfully responded to the complaints in 67 units. In Ekiti and Osun elections, there were reduced reported cases of malfunctioning.

Today, Nigeria has a voter population of 84, 271, 832, certified through the Automatic Fingerprint Identification System. Additional 16, 500, 192 PVCs were printed to enable voters to participate in the approaching elections.

Following applications to INEC and court pronouncements, more parties have been registered by INEC. This has resulted into a projected long roll of ballot paper to accommodate 91 parties. No fewer than 73 presidential candidates are participating in the election

Yakubu has been swift in clearing the air on controversies that have the tendency of denting the image of INEC. For example, he had dismissed the reports on the ban of transmission of election results. In a statement by his media aide, Rotimi Oyekanmi, he urged the public to disregard the rumour, saying: “There is nothing like the ban on transmission of collation of results. INEC has its procedures for conducting elections and declaring results. We did not make any announcement that there will be change in our processes, which we have improved upon tremendously since 2015.”

Recently, the PDP cried out over the appointment of Mrs. Amina Zakari as Head of INEC Collation Centre Committee, claiming that she is a relation of President Muhammadu Buhari. To clear the air, Yakubu said, although some staff have to prepare the venue for the conduct of the election, provide internet service and arrange for the accreditation foreign observers and the media, he is the overall coordinator. “I am absolutely responsible for the coordination of the secretariat for the collation of results,” he stressed.

Ahead of the elections, Yakubu has been meeting with stakeholders, including the business community, representatives of political parties, diplomats, security agencies and foreign observers, on how to ensure free and fair polls.

Also, the electoral body is paying special attention to the challenge of conducting credible polls in coastal areas, which can not be reached through roads, Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, and other remote areas cut off from civilisation.

Many believe that Yakubu is eminently qualified for the job. The Bauchi-born scholar earned his doctorate degree in Political Philosophy from the Oxford University. He is a lecturer, guerrilla warfare expert and Professor of Political History and International Studies at the Nigerian Defense Academy. Before his appointment as INEC Chairman, he had served the Executive Secretary of the tertiary Education Trust Fund. During his tenure, a national Book Development Fund was established, which supported 102 journals of professional associations. Yakubu was also the Assistant Secretary of Finance and Administration at the 2014 National Conference in Abuja.