New INEC can’t be assessed until tempted with money, says former PDP chairman

Vincent Ogbulafor, a former national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says it is impossible to ascertain the credibility of the new leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) until the commission, now led by Mahmood Yakubu, faces – and passes – tests of financial inducements.

Ogbulafor, who was speaking with NAN in Abuja on Tuesday, also said Nigeria is still unready for either the electronic voting system or Diaspoar, both of which were heavily discussed in the buildup to the 2015 general election.

“The performance of INEC will tell whether the new leadership is the expected messiah,” he said.

“We have to try them out because this country is very difficult to rule. Like Americans say, ‘money talks’. It is when you stay there and see money and look beyond money, it is then [that] we can begin to assess them.’’

On Diaspora voting, he said: “If you are talking about Diaspora voting, are you going to use electronic for them to vote from America or from London, from Germany, when power does not work or steady here?

“On election day, you may not have light in the polling booths, how do you then record that?

“Electronic voting will be difficult. How can it work when in my village where there is no light and you want people to register electronically?

“[It won’t work] Unless you buy generator for them, unless you bring computer down for them, so that they would be able to access the internet. We still have a long way to go for those things to be functional.’’

He recalled that a delegation of Nigerians in America approached him on the issue when he was the national chairman of PDP. He argued that for electronic and Diaspora voting to be adopted, the national assembly needs to legislate on it, while the president also needs to give his assent to such bill.

Ogbulafor also urged Alex Otti, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia, to accept the tribunal verdict.

“Let Otti embrace the judgment and reach out to Ikpeazu for a hand shake,’’ he said.

“Power belongs to God and He gives it to who He wants. I passed through the process before. Remember I contested for governorship twice, twice did I lose.”