The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has further assured Nigerians that the Commissioner has no option than to deliver a credible 2023 general election that will meet all internationally acclaimed standards
INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee(IVEC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Festus Okoye, said that the commission is under pressure to deliver on its mandate.
Okoye, who spoke during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, admitted that there is pressure on the commission to conduct a free, fair, transparent and inclusive elections.
“Yes, we are under pressure from the Nigerian people to deliver a credible, fair and transparen5r election in 2023, and that’s the only pressure I know about.”
Okoye, who dismissed the recent call from some section of Nigerians for the sacking of the INEC chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, added that the process for the removal of INEC chairman is also rigorous.
He said, “Let me make this point. The position of the INEC chairman is a very serious position and it is a constitutionally protected position. The process for the appointment of INEC chairman is a very rigorous process. The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria makes nomination, then goes top the council of state.
“Thereafter he goes to the National Assembly for possible confirmation. Now the process and the procedure, the mechanism for the removal of INEC chairman is also a very rigorous process. First there must be an allegation and that allegation must conform to the provision of of constitution.
“Thereafter the allegation must be taken to the president and the president now approaches the National Assembly asking the Senate in this instance to remove the electoral management body.”
