Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, spoke critically about the role of state electoral commissions, labeling them as tools for rigging elections controlled by governors.
He made these remarks during a presentation in Maiduguri titled “Capacity Building Workshop on Enhancing Skills of Government Officials In Policy Implementation and Productive Human Resources Management.”
El-Rufai highlighted the success of electronic voting in local government elections during his tenure, which enhanced transparency and credibility. He recounted an incident where a governor from the Northwest region expressed interest in adopting the electronic voting system after witnessing its effectiveness in Kaduna.
However, instead of embracing the technology, the governor resorted to traditional methods of manipulating election results.
He advocated for the abolishment of state electoral commissions, suggesting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should handle all local government elections for improved credibility.
El-Rufai also discussed his administration’s approach to demolitions in Kaduna, emphasizing adherence to due process to avoid legal challenges.
He stressed the importance of transparency and fairness in governance, citing instances where opposition candidates switched allegiance due to the credibility of elections conducted under his leadership.
