'I'm not and will never be influenced by Presidency,' INEC Chairman says

Yakubu stated this while declaring open a capacity development workshop for INEC press corps, with the theme 'Repositioning the Media for Effective Coverage of Electoral Processes.'

He recalled how INEC workers were brutalised and almost killed during the Rivers rerun election, adding that there were 70 incidences of deliberate obstruction.

He blamed politicians involved in the election for the series of violence that marred the polls, noting that it is as a result of their hate speeches.

On the allegations of bribery against INEC staff, Yakubu said an administrative inquiry will be set up to uncover what transpired, warning that any of them found guilty will be dealt with accordingly.

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Responding to a question on whether he was being influenced by the presidency, he said: "For those who know me, it is too late for me to be intimidated by anybody at this stage. There is nothing I am looking for that God has not given me.

"The only job I prayed for is to be a lecturer, but I am a professor.

So anything I do now is a bonus. I don’t think anybody can intimidate me or influence me to do anything at this stage. So, directly or indirectly, I have not been approached by anybody to do anything in any way. There is no influence in INEC; there will never be an influence on INEC."

The Chairman added that the best criterion to assess INEC would be the outcome of polls.