Nominated chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday said his major challenge will be the conduct of a credible election next year.
Jega, who took questions from senators at his screening exercise for over three hours, also gave the review of the voters’ register; internal re-organisation of INEC and actual preparations for next year’s general elections as three two major challenges he will tackle.
He said “under my leadership as INEC chairman, three issues will get my attention: the voters’ register; the internal re-organisation of the commission and actual preparations for the general elections because time is not on our side. “The challenge before me and other members of the commission is to have a free and fair election and I have the confidence that with the other members, we shall apply to do what are necessary to ensure the operational guidelines are put in place to achieve that”.
Jega in answer to a question denied ever being a consultant to the former national chairman of INEC, Maurice Iwu, saying “I have never been a consultant to the commission; the closest I came in contact was when I was invited to give lectures as a resource person.
“I had been invited three times by INEC to deliver papers and those were before the 2007 elections. I was never consultant and most of my consultancy jobs were with the University of Bayero”. Jega when asked if he was sure the commission was ready for the conduct of next year’s election, said “I cannot say… until I get there; it may be difficult to get a clearer operational picture but it is not going to be an easy task, but I believe we have the ability to give free and fair elections and make sure the votes of the people count”.
Asked if he agreed with the recommendations of the Uwais electoral reform panel of which he was a member that the National Judicial Council (NJC) should be the clearing house for the appointment of INEC chairman following his nomination, Jega said “the key issue is whether the constitution or the Electoral Act have been complied with but I am satisfied with existing laws”.
He, however, said he stood with all the recommendations of the Uwais panel report, noting that “we did our best and I have no reason to disagree with the recommendations of the panel”. President Jonathan nominated Jega, a respected academic, two weeks ago to head the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
His appointment was met with cautious optimism by political parties although many warned deep reforms were needed. The 2007 election that brought Yar’Adua to power marked the first handover of power from one civilian president to another. But children were reported to have been included in the voting lists, while voter registration machines were found in the private homes of politicians.
Sceptics question whether Jega will have time to implement meaningful reforms in the few months left before election campaigning is due to begin. Yar’Adua had also made electoral reform one of his priorities but little progress was made.
Candidates and voters decried widespread irregularities in Anambra governorship election in February, a poll seen as a litmus test of how far Nigeria had come in improving its electoral system. Would-be voters across the state complained that their names were not on electoral rolls.
The Senate will today continue the screening of the other seven members of the commission. They are Nuru Yakubu; Thelma Iremiren; Olayiwole Olorode; Nne Nwafor; Hammanga Kurmi and Ismael Igbani
By KEHINDE AKINTOLA & KEHINDE AKINTOLA
Jega, who took questions from senators at his screening exercise for over three hours, also gave the review of the voters’ register; internal re-organisation of INEC and actual preparations for next year’s general elections as three two major challenges he will tackle.
He said “under my leadership as INEC chairman, three issues will get my attention: the voters’ register; the internal re-organisation of the commission and actual preparations for the general elections because time is not on our side. “The challenge before me and other members of the commission is to have a free and fair election and I have the confidence that with the other members, we shall apply to do what are necessary to ensure the operational guidelines are put in place to achieve that”.
Jega in answer to a question denied ever being a consultant to the former national chairman of INEC, Maurice Iwu, saying “I have never been a consultant to the commission; the closest I came in contact was when I was invited to give lectures as a resource person.
“I had been invited three times by INEC to deliver papers and those were before the 2007 elections. I was never consultant and most of my consultancy jobs were with the University of Bayero”. Jega when asked if he was sure the commission was ready for the conduct of next year’s election, said “I cannot say… until I get there; it may be difficult to get a clearer operational picture but it is not going to be an easy task, but I believe we have the ability to give free and fair elections and make sure the votes of the people count”.
He, however, said he stood with all the recommendations of the Uwais panel report, noting that “we did our best and I have no reason to disagree with the recommendations of the panel”. President Jonathan nominated Jega, a respected academic, two weeks ago to head the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
His appointment was met with cautious optimism by political parties although many warned deep reforms were needed. The 2007 election that brought Yar’Adua to power marked the first handover of power from one civilian president to another. But children were reported to have been included in the voting lists, while voter registration machines were found in the private homes of politicians.
Sceptics question whether Jega will have time to implement meaningful reforms in the few months left before election campaigning is due to begin. Yar’Adua had also made electoral reform one of his priorities but little progress was made.
Candidates and voters decried widespread irregularities in Anambra governorship election in February, a poll seen as a litmus test of how far Nigeria had come in improving its electoral system. Would-be voters across the state complained that their names were not on electoral rolls.
The Senate will today continue the screening of the other seven members of the commission. They are Nuru Yakubu; Thelma Iremiren; Olayiwole Olorode; Nne Nwafor; Hammanga Kurmi and Ismael Igbani
By KEHINDE AKINTOLA & KEHINDE AKINTOLA
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