Bishop Matthew Kukah Raises Concerns Over INEC’s Legitimacy Crisis After 2023 Elections
Bishop Matthew Kukah, the convener of the National Peace Committee, has expressed his apprehensions regarding the legitimacy crisis facing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the 2023 elections in Nigeria.
In a recent appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Kukah emphasized the importance of addressing past errors to pave the way for a more credible and trusted electoral process in the future.
The Significance of Trust in Electoral Conduct
During his interview, Kukah underscored the critical role that trust plays in the conduct of elections. He emphasized that institutions entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing elections must function in a manner that garners respect and trust from the public.
The credibility of INEC, according to Kukah, is now in question, and efforts must be made to restore it.
Kukah stated: “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.”
Focus on National Issues and Institutional Improvement
In light of the 2023 electoral process, Bishop Kukah called for a greater emphasis on addressing national issues and enhancing the country’s institutions.
This focus on national priorities and institutional improvement is seen as pivotal for ensuring the success and integrity of future elections in Nigeria.
Kukah also called for substantial funds allocated for the upcoming governorship elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa States. He stressed that INEC should not complain about resource constraints for the polls, given the significant budget allocations.
“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 stated.
INEC’s Need for Stability and Confidence
Bishop Matthew Kukah called for a shift in the approach to electoral processes in Nigeria.
He stressed the need for Nigerians to take full responsibility for how these processes are conducted and urged INEC to reach a point where it does not experience anxiety during every election season.
“People must also get to a point in which INEC will not have anxiety every time they are about to conduct elections,” Kukah emphasized, highlighting the importance of stability and confidence in the electoral process.
In conclusion, Bishop Kukah’s remarks shed light on the challenges facing INEC in terms of trust, legitimacy, and resources, while also emphasizing the collective responsibility of Nigerians in ensuring the integrity of future elections in the country.
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