JEGA ACCUSSES POLITICIANS OF WORKING AGAINST CREDIBLE ELECTIONS

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Thursday blamed politicians and stakeholders, for working against the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in the country.

Jega stated that Nigerians seek credible and hitch-free polls, but noted that politicians and other stakeholders like the security agencies had consistently frustrated the desire of the electorate to vote for the candidates of their choice.
The INEC boss made the remark in a key note address at a one-day workshop on ‘Securing the 2015 Elections’, organised for Command Commissioners of Police by the United Nations Development Programme in collaboration with the police, on Thursday in Abuja.
He said, “Nigerians have aspired for democracy; they have aspired for free, fair and credible election for the deepening and consolidation of democracy, but this aspiration has been continuously frustrated to the extent that one can say that many Nigerians have been wondering about whether democracy is worth it.
“Regrettably, the series of elections that we have had, the choice of the voter has in most cases been truncated.This is either by actions or inactions of the electoral commission or by the very aggressive and fraudulent conduct of participants in the electoral process.”
According to him, in some other cases, the frustration of the voters was the result of the actions or inaction of security agencies, who were supposed to secure the electoral process.
The INEC chairman, therefore, called on all stakeholders to do what was expected of them to ensure a free, fair and credible elections in 2015.
He described the police as an important stakeholder and urged the Force to collaborate more with the commission to ensure that the forthcoming elections were devoid of crisis.
He, also, commended them, saying they had improved on their performances so far but added that they need to do more to secure the 2015 elections.
Jega said that at least three unarmed policemen and other security personnel are needed to man each polling station during the election to give voters the confidence to exercise their franchise.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, assured that the police would provide adequate security for the election.
He said, “The task of providing adequate security during the electoral process is one of the most daunting challenges confronting security agencies today.
“The Nigeria Police, being the lead agency will, with the cooperation and assistance of sister agencies do everything that it can to secure the electoral officers, materials and voters.