Taking a queue from the Senate, the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters on Wednesday passed a vote of confidence on the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu, asking him to ignore criticisms against his continued stay in office.

The committee at a short press briefing, while proceedings were on inside the chambers, passed a vote of confidence on the INEC boss, saying he had not done any wrong to warrant his being sacked from that office.

Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Musa S’Adah, who addressed newsmen alongside his members, carpeted those calling for the sack of Iwu, describing them enemies of democracy.

“He must be allowed to continue with his tenure of five years which will terminate next year. That is if the president wants him there,” he said.
Describing the call for Iwu’s sack as uncharitable, the members said such calls only bordered on insincerity of many Nigerians, particularly politicians, including National Assembly members and governors who were beneficiaries of the elections conducted by Iwu’s INEC.

“The committee wishes to align itself with the position of the Senate on the confidence vote passed on the INEC boss. Prof. Iwu could not be blamed for everything that went wrong in the commission” he argued.
According to him, Iwu came in through due process as INEC chairman and could only be removed through the same process, adding that it was the position of the committee that the man should be allowed to enjoy his five- year tenure, which would lapse next year, except the president felt otherwise.
He disagreed with those people claiming that Prof. Iwu collaborated with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig elections, stating that “if it were so, the opposition parties would not have won in states like Bauchi, Lagos, Edo and Ondo states.”

Another member of the committee, Hon. Emmanuel Belo, pronounced confidence vote on Iwu, and warned against misinterpreting the stand of the committee because they refused to be paid agents of anybody.
“As a committee, we are merely observing the rule of law and the dictates of the constitution, as well as performing our duties as representatives of the people of Nigeria.”

Lending his voice in backing Professor Iwu, AC member from Lagos state, Hon. Jayeola Ajata said it was his party’s decision that Iwu should continue in office as it was in order.
“If Iwu could conduct Lagos election and my party, the AC won convincingly, then he should not to be blamed, since he was just the boss of INEC nationwide.
“Can Iwu be held responsible for all that went wrong in INEC?” Hon. Ajata queried.