Chuks Okocha And Sufuyan Ojeifo
17 October 2007
Abuja — Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Maurice Iwu, yesterday presented official report of the 2007 general election, with the verdict that the elections were justified.
Iwu described International and Local Observers that condemned the 2007 elections as corrupt and biased.
Also yesterday, Iwu submitted final report of the election to the Senate President, Senator David Mark, saying the report captured how Nigerians thwarted international conspiracy to undermine the nation's sovereignty.
Iwu said that the Commission ensured that the election was held despite a few mistakes that characterised the exercise.
According to him, "nonetheless, the election was successful by any sober analysis and its outcome reflects the intent of the Nigerian electorates. With every sense of humility and service to my country, I unequivocally state that in all, the Commission went the extra mile in ensuring not only that the elections were held, but that they were successful, free and fair."
Iwu said on pages 54 and 55, that in the eight presidential election petition, six have been dismissed, while out of 1,250 petitions, about 600 have been dismissed.
He also said 24 fresh elections have been ordered, which comprised of one gubernatorial election, one senatorial, two federal constituency elections and 20 state Assembly elections in 19 states, adding that there are outstanding petitions and few appeals.
Iwu said the Commission was prepared to break the jinx of transition-to-transition elections, adding that INEC was mindful of the historical challenge of the 2007 elections and was determined to propel the nation to break the jinx.
According to him, though there were some imperfections, INEC lacked the legal authority to intervene with the results as declared by any returning officer.
According to INEC, the 2007 elections were marked by widespread scepticisms about government commitment, occasioned by the National Assembly's inability to amend the Constitution, which was a fall-out of the Third Term Agenda.
He lamented that the legal tussle over the eligibility of the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar to contest and the consequent Supreme Court Judgment forced INEC to print 65 million fresh ballot papers in South Africa, amidst allegations of saboteur by one of the airlines paid to bring the ballot papers to Nigeria.
Iwu said, "no electoral body anywhere in the world had conducted an election under the prevalent atmosphere leading to the 2007 election. The assault on the Commission was total. Hitherto neutral bodies such as civil society organisation, international election observers were infiltrated and then mobilised to undermine the credibility of the Commission and the election even before it was conducted.
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