Jega Expresses Fear over Reconstitution of New INEC Leadership

After successfully conducting the 2015 general election that was adjudged to be credible, the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday expressed fear over the yet-to-be constituted new leadership of the commission to consolidate on the gains of the post 2015 elections after stepping down next month.

Jega made this known yesterday in Abuja at the presentation of the 2015 general election observation report carried out by Election Monitor, a civil society group, supported by McArthur Foundation.

The INEC boss, who was represented by the commission’s, Director, Elections and Party Monitoring, Mr. Sheu Wahab, said INEC had done well in restructuring the electoral process in Nigeria, but noted that it would be very easy for what had been achieved to be reversed by the incoming members if the country got it wrong on the new leadership.

According to him, “A lot depends on civil society organisations as of what we do now. Yes, elections have been conducted in Nigeria, yes, elections have been acknowledged to be credible than past elections, and Nigeria have also been able to assess the role of technology.

“As CSOs, we need to continue to beam the searchlight on post election events, and the first thing that will come to your mind is the reconstitution of new INEC, Jega’s commission will be winding up by the end of June, a new commission is going to be put in place. If we are going to consolidate on the gains of 2015 elections, I think CSOs have every reason to watch out for the new commission that is going to come in place.

“For me, I’m interested in a post Jega, a new commission that will do a lot better than what he has done; and consolidate on what he has done. I therefore expect the CSOs to watch the new commission, check the record of the members of the new commission and let the people know who they are.” The INEC chairman stressed further that the CSOs should beam their searchlight on the incoming members of the commission, adding that they should not wait till things get out of hand before they start criticising.

“The role is that of CSOs for me than any other organ because you can never expect the party in power to see anything wrong in what they are doing. Lai Mohammed, the spokesman of All Progressives congress (APC) will continue to defend APC even though they may not be doing well..., you can’t use the barometer of these parties to measure how the government is performing,” he explained.

He pointed out that the media should have been another focal point, but stated that the ownership structure was affecting the reportage of the media.

Meanwhile, the National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Abiodun Anjola, said the research was conducted in order to give quality information that helps the public to understand election process better without fear or favour.

He added: “INEC must bring someone like Jega or better than him. If they bring corrupt person, it will take us back again. So we need a man of integrity like Jega to be active in the next four years.

“We need to use more technology even in voting, let it be with technology. For instance, the card reader helped to reduce electoral rigging during the last election. It is as if less people voted this time but it was not so in 2011.”

Earlier, a member of the Youth Alert group, Madam Hussaina Akila, said the political atmosphere remains too rough for women to compete and win election.

“I pray that as we grow the atmosphere will be less aggressive, less violent and less intimidating for women to participate in the elections. I hope in years to come that the atmosphere will be more friendly for women to participate in elections like their men counterpart,” she said.