INEC must not take us for granted – Buhari

TRACKING>>President Muhammadu Buhari has warned that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must not take Nigerians for granted.

Buhari was speaking at the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) caucus meeting that held in Abuja.

“The constitution and laws protected INEC but they must not take us for granted,” Buhari said.

INEC postponed the elections a few hours to the when the polls were supposed to be opened. The president had travelled to his hometown, Daura in Katsina State in order to vote but woke to information that the election had been postponed.

Buhari questioned the reason INEC waited hours to the election to announce the postponement. He insisted INEC had all the time and resources it needed.

“INEC had all the time and all the resources they wanted; they didn’t have to wait for only six hours to cancel the votes and tell us that it was impossible.

“We have to go into details to find out exactly what happened and who is responsible after the elections,” he said.

Buhari hinted that a probe will be carried out to know the details that led to the postponement. He lamented INEC’s incompetence while stating the Commission had no “moral reason” for its non-performance.

“Definitely, the reasons why certain incompetence manifested itself has to be explained to the nation. After the election, we have to know exactly what happened, and who is responsible; otherwise our efforts to make sure that this system that we voluntarily accept, is not making progress. What is the use if we accept incompetence?”

“If for example, the National Assembly refused to approve what they wanted, then INEC could have some moral reasons, why it couldn’t perform.

“If the time, constitutionally, four years after was not obeyed by the government and the system, INEC would have a case but we do not understand why this happened and we would have to go into details after the election, why this happened.”