Bishop Matthew Kukah, convener of the National Peace Committee has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing an integrity crisis following the 2023 elections.
Fielding questions during the Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Kukah stated that to pave the way for a better future, the electoral umpire must address errors of the past.
He noted that trust is essential in the conduct of elections, and institutions entrusted with this responsibility should function in a way that commands respect.
He said: “INEC took the heat; it’s having a legitimacy crisis; it’s having a confidence and trust crisis. We must also understand that at least the sins of yesterday have to be cured so that tomorrow can be better.
“It’s about trust, but we fail to trust ourselves to deploy trust to institutions and those who run those institutions, but they must also function in a way and manner that commands respect.”
The cleric also called for greater focus on national issues and improving institutions in the country in light of the 2023 electoral process.
He said: “INEC took the heat; it’s having a legitimacy crisis; it’s having a confidence and trust crisis. We must also understand that at least the sins of yesterday have to be cured so that tomorrow can be better.
“It’s about trust, but we fail to trust ourselves to deploy trust to institutions and those who run those institutions, but they must also function in a way and manner that commands respect.”
The cleric also called for greater focus on national issues and improving institutions in the country in light of the 2023 electoral process.
The cleric stated that substantial funds have been budgeted for the November 11 governorship elections in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States, saying that INEC should not complain about a lack of resources for the polls.
He said: “We cannot spend the time in the classroom; we must graduate to a new class of consciousness. Nigeria must take full responsibility for how these processes are conducted.
“There is a size of this country and limited resources, but INEC can no longer complain about lack of resources because we hear of the hundreds of billions that are being spent on INEC.”
Kukah further stated that Nigerians need to take full responsibility for how electoral processes are conducted, and INEC should reach a point where it is not anxious every election season.
Speaking further, he said that “People must also get to a point in which INEC will not have anxiety every time they are about to conduct elections.”