Former Delta State governorship candidate Fidelis Oditah has said that a person should not be eligible to become the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) just because they are a professor.
Following Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s resignation as the election body’s head, he made these remarks.
In 2019, two professors were found guilty of electoral fraud in Akwa Ibom, he said during an appearance on Channels Television.
Although he stated that he had nothing against professors, he contended that academic designations alone should not be the deciding factor in hiring decisions.
“Obviously, it is important to stress that simply being a professor and professing knowledge of a particular field of human endeavor does not qualify one to be an INEC commissioner, let alone INEC chairman.” I do not intend to belittle or denigrate professors in any way.
It goes without saying that we recall the 2019 elections, when two academics in Akwa-Ibom State were found guilty of engaging in fraudulent electoral activities.
“We must exercise skepticism when considering professorship as a definitive prerequisite in and of itself.
“We need to exercise caution, I believe. Professor appointments alone, in my opinion, are not the answer. Nothing is against them. “I have nothing against professors,” he declared.
