The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has distanced itself from a “Celebration of the widely applauded April 2011 General Elections in Nigeria and one year in office of Professor Attahiru Jega and his team of National Commissioners” currently being advertised and planned by a group which calls itself “Nigeria Vote-Count Campaigners.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has distanced itself from a “Celebration of the widely applauded April 2011 General Elections in Nigeria and one year in office of Professor Attahiru Jega and his team of National Commissioners” currently being advertised and planned by a group which calls itself “Nigeria Vote-Count Campaigners.”
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The event is scheduled for June 9 in Abuja, but in a statement today, INEC said although it was overwhelmed by the appreciation by most Nigerians and the international community of its performance in the April 2011elections, it was not “inclined to go on a celebration binge,” and that the group had failed to obtain its endorsement.
Noting that invitation cards and a programme brochure bearing the INEC logo have already been printed and issued to the public, INEC said the haste of the group raised questions about the intent of the organizers, and urged the public to be wary.
Full text of the statement :
The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been drawn to a programme of events being planned by a group named Nigeria Vote-Count Campaigners.
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This programme, scheduled for Thursday, June 9, 2011, in Abuja, is titled “Celebration of the widely applauded April 2011 General Elections in Nigeria and one year in office of Professor Attahiru Jega and his team of National Commissioners”. Already, invitation cards and a programme brochure bearing the INEC logo have been printed and issued to the public.
The public is hereby advised that INEC’s endorsement was not secured for the purported “celebration,” neither did the INEC Chairman and National Commissioners, who are purportedly being celebrated, give their blessing to the planned programme. Even though a letter was written to the Commission, the organizers did not await a response before going public with their preparations.
Much as INEC is overwhelmed by the gracious appreciation by most Nigerians and the international community of its modest achievements in the April elections, the Commission isn’t inclined to go on a celebration binge. Rather, the Commission is presently undertaking a comprehensive review of the elections, so as to take lessons learnt from the process on board for future consolidation of the modest gains.
Besides, that the Commission’s logo is used on a programme brochure for which its consent has not been obtained raises issues about the intent of the organizers, and the public is advised to be wary.
Kayode R. Idowu
Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman
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