Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has endorsed President Umaru Musa Yar’adua’s decision to retain the power to appoint the Chairman of the Independent and Electoral Commission (INEC), saying that the integrity of the electoral process would not necessarily be compromised if the president appoints the chairman and members of the electoral body.

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on “Democracy at 10”, Fashola said “there is the National Population Commission; the chairman of that commission is appointed by the President.

Now, what significant difference do you have between a population enumeration exercise, counting people and electoral process counting votes? So why hasn’t there been hue and cry about who appoints the chairman of the National Population Commission, is the same President. In any event, take the argument to logical conclusion, if you take it to the judiciary who appoints the Chief Justice of the Federation the same president on certain recommended procedures and therefore it really doesn’t matter who appoints who, is not the big issue, the really issue is the character of the people appointed.”

He explained that “integrity is not who appoints the people. It is the integrity of the people who are appointed. And if you say the National Judicial Council should appoint them, you are taking executive functions and giving them to the judiciary. This would be dragging them into politics. And in any case, we cannot, as a nation, have solutions to our problems by throwing out things fundamental to the system. It is not just right. We only have to ensure that what is right has to be done. There should be no throwing out of the baby with the bath water. We must have confidence in ourselves to correct the ills. And there is no other population that will come and do it for us.

He added: “What is important is the integrity of the people appointed and their capacity to exercise the independence being guaranteed to INEC by the reform bills. The recommendation for the National Judicial Council to appoint the chairman and members of INEC is not in line with the fundamental process of the law. And remember, we are making laws for future generations and not just for perceived perceptions”.

The governor stated that the best safeguard against the abuse of the electoral process is the strict application of the law and the character of electoral officials. He argued that when those who violate the nation’s electoral laws are brought to book, there would be sanity in the electoral process.

President Yar’adua had rejected the Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee’s recommendation that the INEC chairman and members be nominated by the National Judicial Council (NJC), saying  the recommendation violates the principle of separation of powers in a democracy.

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becomrich.:

fashola is wrong on this. that is why we have problem. Let that power be with the national assembly.

Yar adua can not appoint his judge to his election. It is not done anywhere. In the USA system. Party pick member to be part of the national election board and state board.

They are wrong on the election reform , it is not the solution. It is structure reform that we should. You see how did we yorubas feel when northerner control power for so long. if the electoral reform take place and one man one vote. the north should be ready to wait till the next 50 years before the next northerner get power.

Electoral reform is a temporary solution , but putting yorubas, edo, delta and bayelsa in benin republic is a permanent solution. Ki ni awon baru fu. Obe ati wara wa ni benin republic.

Chai!!!

Just when I was about to celebrate that for once this man has made sense he deviates

who will cure this madness

OYB_MEND:

Chai!!!

Just when I was about to celebrate that for once this man has made sense he deviates

who will cure this madness

attack of the clone !!!!!