Jega says politicians commit poll fraud, urges change of heart

MADUABUCHI NMERIBEH/Kano

Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Muhammad Jega on Monday has blamed politicians for the persistent fraud and corruption that have permeated the nation’s electoral system.

Prof. Jega spoke at Bayero University Kano, BUK, saying the time is ripe for politicians to shun fraud and jettison the syndrome of winning by hook or crook so as to save Nigeria embarrassment in the February general elections.

Jega delivered a paper entitled “INEC and the 2015 General Elections: Expectations, Prospect and Challenges” at a Conference organized by the authorities of BUK where he was a Vice Chancellor, before his appointment as INEC chairman.

He appealed to politicians to have a change of attitude, at least, for the love of the country.

Jega regretted that the Commission had received a number of cases where National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members working for INEC were threatened and stampeded by politicians when they turn down their offer.

“I am not bashing politicians, but the general tendency is disturbing as they want to win by hook or by crook,” Jega insisted.

He said INEC is not unaware that politicians have resorted to cloning the Permanent Voters’ Card, PVC, but warned that such fraud would not succeed this time round as the Commission has taken adequate measures to curtail it.

“Cloned cards cannot work in INEC reader machine,” Jega warned.

According to him, already, INEC has achieved about 75 per cent in the production and distribution of the PVCs, promising that before the end of January, all eligible voters would have gotten their PVCs.

He said with adequate security arrangement, INEC would be ready to conduct elections in the troubled North-East states

Though challenges of the February elections could be enormous, Jega expressed optimism that with the cooperation of all stakeholders, the elections will turn out the best in the history of Nigeria.

“At the end of it all it is the voter that will give the final decision in the process. As election management body, we will do our possible best to provide level playing ground.

“We are humans and we are doing our best, but that could not be enough that is why we are calling on all stakeholders to also put in their best. Together we can ensure that free, fair and credible elections are held. Nigerians should also use their election rights and improve in the credibility of the exercise

“We inherited over-bloated structure, but we have re-structured it for better, in terms of doing away with areas that were hitherto too loose and duplicating. On policy matter, we looked at both strategic and operational policies. We trained ourselves in maintaining to be non-partisan and highly professional. All necessary planning that could improve in an open, transparent and accountable election are put in place,” he noted.

Also speaking, Chairman of the occasion and the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammad Lawan Uwais, lauded INEC for all the preparations ahead of the February polls, while recognizing the fact that INEC’s assignment remains very challenging.

In his remarks the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police in charge of Zone One, Muhammad Tambari Yabo, warned politicians and their supporters to shun violence in the February polls, reiterating the readiness of the police and sister security agencies to ensure adequate security of lives and property during the elections.

“We are determined more than ever before to provide a level playing ground to see that we have free, fair and credible election in this country where all other countries in the world will look up to us for exemplary election process and procedures,” Yabo stated.