Jega: INEC will continue to accommodate criticisms

hairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega yesterday said the commission would continue to accommodate all manner of criticisms thrown at the electoral body ahead of the 2015 elections.

He said the commission had acknowledged the comments and attacks over the challenges in the distribution of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in some states.

He spoke during a meeting with political parties, held at the INEC’s headquarters in Abuja that witnessed the first appearance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national vice chairman, Lawal Shu’aibu and its publicity secretary, Lai Mohammed.

The INEC chairman said the use of card readers for the next year’s elections and the challenges of distributing Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) informed the meeting between the commission and the registered parties.

He said the guidelines for the conduct of the 2015 general elections contained inputs different from the one used at the 2011 elections, which calls for the interface between INEC and the political parties.

“We know that we cannot please everybody and we know that given the nature of our political terrain, we will have to continue to accommodate criticisms. Some constructive, whatever that is constructive we take it; some criticisms come with the terrain, because as we know our country. I think the challenge for us is to be accommodating,” he said.