ABUJA – The outcome of the June 21 Ekiti State governorship election is a collective success and not that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) alone, an official said Sunday in Abuja.
Mr Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, said it took the collective involvement and responsibility of all stakeholders to achieve the success.
He told the News Agency on Nigeria (NAN) however that judging the credibility of the election was not the responsibility of the commission.
Idowu said that just as many stakeholders have said, INEC believed the election was credibly conducted.
“We have always said that INEC cannot do it alone, because the task of conducting a credible election is a collective responsibility.
“The way the members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who are not INEC staff handled the election in a transparent manner, as well as the peaceful conduct of the politicians and the political parties who played to the rule, are all part of this.
“It is all commendable. Even the contributions of the media which gave a good coverage, the civil societies, observers, security agencies, as well as members of the public, were commendable.
“From the way things turned out, stakeholders have contributed to make it a success,’’ he said.
Idowu said such co-operation and playing to the rule were what the commission was looking forward to in the subsequent elections, especially the 2015 general elections.
He said INEC believed it would perform better in Osun on Aug. 9 and in the 2015 elections, if given the same co-operation by stakeholders.
“I am very optimistic that INEC will do better in Osun, because we will continue to work to achieve the best.
“Even when the Ekiti election has been viewed to be free and fair, as an electoral body that always aspires, our watchword is to conduct better elections in the future.
“We believe there are certain things we will continue to improve on for the development of our electoral process.
“Ekiti election is an indication that achieving credible elections in 2015 is possible, if given the necessary support by all stakeholders,’’ the INEC Chairman’s Chief Press Secretary said.
On the acceptance of the election by some of the political parties, who were already congratulating the winner, Idowu said the gesture was a good development in the country’s political system.
“It is helpful for the political process of the country, when other parties and candidates are accepting result of elections and congratulating the winner who emerged in an election.
“It shows the kind of sportsmanship that is healthy for the development of our political system and democracy,’’ Idowu said.(NAN)