Former Delta State governorship aspirant Fidelis Oditah has stated that simply being a professor should not be the qualification for an individual to become Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
His remarks follow the bowing out of Prof Mahmood Yakubu as the chairman of the electoral body.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television, he pointed out that in 2019, two professors were convicted of electoral fraud in Akwa Ibom.
He clarified that he has nothing against professors, but argued that appointments should not be made solely on the basis of academic titles.
“For the chairmanship of INEC, I don’t mean to disparage or pull down professors but of course it is important to emphasize that just being a professor, professing knowledge of a particular area of human endeavour does not qualify one to be an INEC commissioner, let alone INEC chairman.
“And of course we remember that in the 2019 elections, two professors were convicted of fraudulent electoral conduct in Akwa-Ibom State.
“We have to be sceptical while thinking that professorship by itself is a conclusive requirement.
“I think we have to be careful. I don’t think that the solution lies in just the appointment of professors. There’s nothing against them. I don’t have anything against professors,” he said.
© 2025 Naijaonpoint, a division of NOP Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]