Iwu explodes •Says only idiots expect miracle from

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Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Maurice Iwu has insisted that the electoral body did its best in the conduct of elections under him given the circumstances and the attitude of the political class, which, he said, is averse to change.
Prof. Iwu had been subjected to criticisms in recent times by Nigerians who accused him of being responsible for the electoral shortcomings the nation witnessed in 2007 and subsequent elections ordered by election tribunals.

Protest marches were staged in the nation’s capital, Abuja and in some states of the federation by Nigerians calling for Iwu’s resignation as INEC chairman. But speaking yesterday at a workshop, the INEC chairman contended that the criticisms against him were misplaced.
Addressing participants at a workshop: Addressing Voters’ Apathy in 2010 FCT Area Councils election, scheduled for Saturday organised by Pals and Partners in conjunction with INEC, Professor Iwu blamed Nigerians who often exhibit apathy towards election, but turn round to blame the electoral body when people they loathe emerged winners after an election.

“If you vote, your vote may count, or may not count, but if you don’t vote, your vote surely may not count,’’ Iwu stated. He told the gathering that a fixation to continue to cast aspersion on successive electoral bodies would not solve any problem, until Nigeria addresses the problems responsible for election malfeasance.
“We can continue to look for an escape route, somebody to castigate, but it doesn’t solve any problem. Since 1922, when this country started through the Clifford Constitution, to trying to do election we have done things in a particular way. In 2006, I called the attention of the country to a phenomenon. I say, if you do the same thing in the same way, all the time, expecting a different result, either you are mad, or you are trying to deceive yourself.

“Before electoral reform became a political instrument of intimidation and abuse, we have started serious reform in Nigeria. We looked at how election have been conducted since 1959 and we realised that the whole idea of voters’ registration was faulty. Anytime there is election in Nigeria, whoever compiles the largest number of votes wins election. And since you don’t know how many people your opponent had as registered number of voters and voters cards, if you are lucky to have a riverine area, you bloat the figures overnight and you win elections.”

Iwu told the gathering that his efforts were undermined by the political elite in high quarters who moved against the INEC initiative to use electronic voters’ register to check election rigging through multiple thumb printings.
“There was what I called a national conspiracy against our move. Everybody knew it was happening, but nobody wanted to do anything about it. The commission took the bull by the horns and in 2003 attempted to use electronic voters’ register, but the same people who have everything to gain resisted it and said it was against our culture and religion to have human picture on a card.

“In 2006, we were able to convince Nigerians that the same people who are comfortable having their pictures on Nigerian passport to travel overseas feel uncomfortable to avail us of their pictures for electoral purposes.”
Sounding undaunted the INEC chairman declared that he has done more than any chairman of the electoral body in Nigeria before him to instil sanity in the electoral process.
Iwu reeled out his achievements to include, the introduction of customised ballot papers, and the establishment of the electoral institute, “the first of its kind in Africa, if not the world as a whole.
“We have won; they didn’t believe we could have election in 2007, but we had a successful election. Again, in 2011, we would have a successful election.”

The INEC chairman appealed to Nigerians, not to succumb to the antics of those who want to continue to subvert the conduct of election in Nigeria for their selfish gains.
“You must use every strength in you to challenge them in 2011. Not that they are more intelligent, but because they have the currency. You should rise against their tyranny. I am still very confident that this nation will overcome.’’ Also speaking on the occasion, Ambasador Ayilogo, congratulated the INEC chairman and hoped that the internal measures embarked upon to check electoral fraud would bring positive results.