…Statement emanating from the Chairman of the Independent National
Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega in Abuja during a courtesy visit
by the new U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James F. Entwistle, who took over from Ambassador
Terence McCulley in October 2013. Although the INEC Chairman may have thought
he was being pious and sincere on the notion of not having a perfect election
anywhere in the world, I rather believe that the herculean task and responsibly
of being the Chairman of the nations electoral body, whose final collation and
declaration of result would determine the fate of Nigeria in the next four
years is not acceptable.
Firstly, the statement is not
fair to Nigeria’s economy and electorate as elections are pecuniary and
proposed to gulp a whooping sum of about N93
billion as proposed by INEC. Mr. Jerry Manwe, Chairman House of Representative
Committee on Electoral matters assured that INEC would be properly funded for
2015 elections.
Secondly, it will not be fair on
Political Parties who must have spent billions of Naira and resources
campaigning round the clock to win over voters or in some cases “buy voters”
with the hope of winning available seats during the elections.
Thirdly, INEC is vindicating itself
of any irregularities come 2015 elections ahead. I believe INEC as a body
should take full responsibility of the outcome of an electioneering process,
flawless or otherwise.
Some of the issues we should address as Nigerians and also
question our Dear Prof. Jega are:
What are the indices
for not having a perfect election?
What can be done to
have a perfect election acceptable by all standards to be deemed free, fair and
credible come 2015?
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