MIMIKO LAUDS ELECTORAL SYSTEM, SAYS IT MUST BE SUSTAINED

By NBF News

ONDO State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, yesterday expressed satisfaction with the current electoral process in the country and called for its sustainability in subsequent elections.

Mimiko, who spoke during an interview with newsmen shortly after casting his vote at 12.38 p.m. alongside his wife, Olukemi, at Unit 020 Lodasa/Iparuku/Ijoka, Ward 7 in Ondo town in the Ondo West Local Council Area of the state, praised Nigerians for their cooperation and support, which he said has led to the appreciation of the nation's electoral process by the international community.

'This shows that beyond permutation and speculations, we have had a reasonably satisfactory process. For the first time, after a very long time, we have had an electoral process that is being applauded by the international community. Majority of the people really feel that for the first time, although it is not perfect yet, INEC seems to have gotten it right.

'So, I will say that this is fairly satisfactory and we hope that subsequent elections will take a cue from this and by the time we improve on this, every public officer will come to the realisation that they don't only hold their mandate in trust for the people, but that the revalidation of their mandate will depend entirely on their performance in office and not through any monkey antics.

'For me, this is fundamental and it is a paradigm shift in our electoral psyche and if we can sustain this, this is the very ingredient that will propel Nigeria to a truly developed nation,' he said.